Toronto homeschooled student places 16th in University of Toronto National Biology Competition
Taryn, get ready to have your name go ’round the blogosphere because people are talking about you! 
Taryn Vandenberg of Markham, Ontario came in an impressive 16th in the 2008 U. of T. National Biology Competition. Taryn, who has always been homeschooled, placed ahead of all students from a handful of prestigious Toronto private schools including Crescent, University of Toronto Schools, and Havergal whose top students placed in the 17 – 21 positions.
The 14th annual competition was written by 5,927 eligible contestants at 415 schools on May 1, 2008 (see Results). Over 66,000 students have participated in the competition since 1995. The competition is open to all secondary school students, including homeschoolers. Top students may receive cash prizes and/or admission scholarships to the University of Toronto.
On a personal note, I can’t think of a better ambassador for academically successful homeschooling teens. Taryn is an articulate conversationalist, a curious, thoughtful scholar and a delightful young woman. It’s people like Taryn who give me the motivation to work towards ensuring that no qualified applicant is denied university admissions simply because of his or her unconventional educational path.
This young woman is going to have her pick of universities because she made a name for herself, not because she jumped through hoops picking up credits here and there to satisfy the OSSD requirements. This is what I mean when I say that homeschoolers have the freedom to distinguish themselves, so why waste so much time and effort trying to look like every other applicant?
It’s just a good thing she wasn’t trying to enter the Subway Sandwich contest, which strictly forbids homeschooled applicants. I’m pretty sure her UT Bio Comp achievement tastes sweeter!
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