Syosset student amasses achievements

A Syosset seventh-grader has amassed a list of academic achievements in fields including math, history and film production.

Griffin Hon, 12, who attends Harry B. Thompson Middle School, won a gold medal at this year's Long Island Math Fair and was a member of the school's Math Olympiad Team that placed third during the most recent tournament at SUNY Old Westbury.

Griffin won an Award of Excellence at this year's National PTA Reflections Contest for his stop-motion animated film titled "The Great Drought of Causbotania." This work, entered in the film production category's middle school division, will debut with other winning efforts from students nationwide at a student arts showcase in Washington, D.C., in January.

"All of my achievements I'm very proud of, but the Reflections Contest holds a special place in my heart," Griffin said. "It's the one where I got to express my creativity."

In addition, he was named a Long Island Young Scholar of Mathematics by the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY Old Westbury and a national qualifier in this year's National History Bee and U.S. Geography Olympiad. He also is a student at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.

Griffin plays violin in his school's chamber orchestra and is a member of the Math Club, Technology Club, FIRST LEGO League team and Science Olympiad team.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

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.