18 Long Island students capture Intel science fair honors
Kings Park High School senior Kameron Sedigh, center, was one of 18 L.I. students to win awards at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in Phoenix, where he won a Second Place Grand Award of $1,500 in the biochemistry category. He is pictured here with fellow senior Julian Ubriaco (second from left) who also competed in ISEF and, from left, Superintendent Timothy Eagen, advisor Mary Ellen Fay and Principal Lino Bracco. Credit: Kings Park School District
Eighteen Long Island students were among winners of various awards last month at the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair in Phoenix.
The fair, administered by the Society for Science & the Public in partnership with the Intel Foundation, drew more than 1,700 high school students from 77 countries to compete for some $4 million in prizes. To be eligible, teens first competed in 419 affiliate fairs at state or regional levels — such as the Long Island Science & Engineering Fair, which was held over two rounds in February and March.
“This international science and engineering exhibition is an excellent example of what can be achieved when students from different backgrounds, perspectives and geographies come together to share ideas and solutions,” said foundation president Rosalind Hudnell.
Winners were: Jared Bergen, Sayville High School; Lee Blackburn, Lawrence High School; Alexis D’Alessandro, Half Hollow Hills High School West in Dix Hills; Miriam Eisenberg, North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck; Mohamed Ehab El-Abtah and Sarah Lee, Syosset High School; Cassandra Grello, Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills; Grace Hu, Jessica Huang, Justin Kim and Archana Verma, Jericho High School; Rachel Mashal, John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore; Matthew Perkins and Ariel Slepyan, George W. Hewlett High School; Mehtaab Sawhney, Commack High School; Jordyn Schor, Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School; Kameron Sedigh, Kings Park High School; Kimberly Te, Manhasset High School.
HAUPPAUGE
New superintendent
Dennis P. O’Hara has been appointed superintendent of Hauppauge School District, effective July 1. He will replace Neil Lederer, who has held the position on an interim basis.
O’Hara was most recently principal of Oyster Bay High School and an adjunct professor at St. John’s University’s School of Education. He previously was an assistant principal at Hauppauge High School and the district’s science department chairman from 1998 to 2003.
“From my first day in the district in July of 1998, my learning and career took on a new, and never before imagined, trajectory,” O’Hara said. “Eighteen years later, I feel prepared for this leadership opportunity, and am eager to return to Hauppauge to repay a debt of gratitude and give back to the community that has had a profound effect on my career and life.”
SMITHTOWN
PBS contest
Gina Figliozzi, a Smithtown High School East senior, won the grand prize in Public Broadcasting Service’s “Meet Me in DC” Contest, which challenged students to design and create election posters outlining important issues in the community. Her design was themed around the U.S. Constitution.
The contest, open to grades K-12, aimed to engage pupils in a nonpartisan way about politics, debates and the significance of elections. Entries were evaluated on creativity, originality, appeal and persuasiveness.
For winning, Figliozzi received a trip for two to Washington, D.C., and will visit the White House, a Congressional session, the National Archives, and the set of “PBS NewsHour.”
COUNTYWIDE
Business Plan Competition
Teams from Kings Park and Commack high schools placed second and third, respectively, in Junior Achievement of New York’s Ninth Annual High School Business Plan Competition, a three-month entrepreneurial boot camp experience for teens to conceive, research and draft business plans. The event attracted some 125 teams.
Kings Park’s team, “Song Sense,” was composed of students Justine Guinaw, Nicole Kritikos and Nicole Kent and won $1,500. Their business plan proposed wristbands that are capable of translating music to impulses for deaf individuals.
Commack’s team, “MuZam,” was composed of students Alexis Capasso, Michelle Wolk and Giavanna Yopp and won $750. They proposed an app that assists with museum tours.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
