Two AMIT students, who were part of the five-member Israel national team at the 51st International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held this week in Lithuania, won medals and brought a great deal of honor to the State of Israel.
Tamir Shapiro, from AMIT Mr. & Mrs. Lester Sutker Arts and Sciences Junior and Senior High School for Boys, Modiin, won a silver medal in the competition, and Reut Goldberg from AMIT Anna Teich Ulpana, Haifa, won a bronze medal.
Some 80 countries from all over the world participated in the competition. The Israeli team, which took home four silver and four bronze medals, climbed to 15th place in the world with each member winning at least one prize.
Reut Goldberg explained: “Throughout the past two years, I invested a lot of time studying physics for the Olympics. During all this time I did not think I would make it to the Olympics, and I realized that I enjoy learning and the challenge the team has set for me. I’m obviously happy to have won a medal, but the real win is the people I met and the tools I acquired during the preparation for the competition. I achieved my victory even before I took the test.”
Tamir Shapira added: “Being a member of the national physics team for two and a half years means a lot of training, including exercises, tests, labs and investing many hours of study. Self-discipline, perseverance, willpower, and self-confidence are required. I am happy to have had the great privilege of successfully representing the State of Israel.”
Moriah Shapira, principal of AMIT Anna Teich Ulpana, congratulated Reut on her impressive international achievement. “Reut invested much time and effort in winning her medal for the glory of the State of Israel. I believe that investing in excellence in the fields of science in general and physics in particular, [there] are significant goals and we will continue to invest in them.”
Haifa Mayor Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem congratulated Reut as well. “On behalf of all the residents of Haifa, we are proud of Reut and are sure that her impressive achievement will bring more great honor to our city.”
Director General of the AMIT Network, Dr. Amnon Eldar, said: “Tamir and Reut attained excellent personal achievements and are exemplars of investment, dedication and maximizing potential. Congratulations to their parents and teachers for their support and empowerment. A big thank you to the community of physics teachers at AMIT, and to Sahar Sagui, head of excellence at AMIT, who succeeded in increasing by approximately 100 percent the number of AMIT students who study level 5 physics for the Bagrut exam and the number who take part in international competitions.”
