LI winners at Intel science fair
Long Island students proved they are among the world's brightest young scientists earlier this month by taking top awards at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose, Calif.
The fair, administered by the nonprofit Society for Science & the Public, included some 1,600 students from 59 countries presenting their independent research in categories ranging from animal sciences to biochemistry to transportation.
In Suffolk County the top-performing student was Erica Portnoy of Commack High School, who earned first place in microbiology for a research project in which she manipulated DNA to study the chronological steps of how bacterial pathogens can cause infection.
"If this is understood, it's possible to create treatment to target specific bacteria," said Portnoy, who won a $3,000 prize.
Two Nassau students, Joshua Pfeffer of North Shore Hebrew Academy in Great Neck and Celline Kim of Manhasset High School, were among 19 students nationwide to win best of category and $8,000 prizes in mathematical sciences and environmental sciences, respectively.
Other Suffolk winners of smaller cash prizes in a variety of disciplines were Alexis Tchaconas of Commack High School, Rohit Ramani of Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills, and Ruchi Shah and Garima Tadav of Sachem North High School in Lake Ronkonkoma. To qualify for the fair, students competed earlier at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair and the New York State Science and Engineering Fair.
Outstanding new teacher
Dawn Levine, a social studies teacher at Edmund Miles Middle School, is the 2010 recipient of the Long Island Council for the Social Studies Outstanding New Teacher Award. She was honored last week at a ceremony at the Sheraton hotel in Hauppauge.
Peace Corps visitor
Connetquot High School students received an inspirational visit earlier this month from Jen Lazuta, a Peace Corps volunteer who spent two years in Burkina Faso in Africa. Lazuta, a 2003 Connetquot graduate, taught small business management to African women and English to children at a school in the village of Bougounam.
"It's important to stimulate students' cross-cultural awareness and respect and tolerate other world cultures," said language teacher Anita Ekstam.
Lazuta is holding an auction at the high school next month to fund a village library.
Senior senior prom
Huntington High School's Interact-Grandfriends Club recently hosted a "senior senior prom" in the school cafeteria that attracted 172 senior citizens for an afternoon of food and dancing. Music ranged from Frank Sinatra to the Supremes to the Village People.
The club funded the mock prom through bake sales as well as with donations from the Huntington Rotary Club and Astoria Federal Savings Bank.
"It was a wonderful afternoon for everyone involved," said Superintendent John Finello. "This is a very special event for our students, who never fail to impress their guests."
Scholarship winner
Jason Chavez of Kings Park High School has been named a $10,000 scholarship winner by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. In total, 253 seniors nationwide - including two students from Nassau County - earned $3 million in scholarships.
New superintendent
Susan G. Hodun has been named acting superintendent of the Miller Place School District, replacing Agatha P. Kelly, who has retired to devote time to family matters. Previously, Hodun was an assistant superintendent.
COUNTYWIDE
Nassau arts fair winners
Several Suffolk County students were winners in Nassau Community College's 2010 Arts and Science Fair.
Some 200 teens presented science projects, art and monologues. Local winners were: Farmingdale: Joshua Murthy and Michael Rulli of Farmingdale High School; Huntington: Everett Corador, Maya Horton and Anthony Kouttron of Huntington High School; Lindenhurst: Meghan Ames and Heather Dwyer of Lindenhurst High School.
ISLANDWIDE
Best music communities
Eighteen Long Island school districts were among 174 nationwide named best communities for music education earlier this month by the NAMM Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at increasing interest in music. Districts were chosen based on surveys conducted by the Institute for Educational Research and Public Service, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.
Selected districts were Bay Shore, Connetquot, East Meadow, Great Neck, Herricks, Hewlett-Woodmere, Island Trees, Jericho, Longwood, Manhasset, Massapequa, Mineola, North Babylon, Northport-East Northport, Oceanside, South Huntington, Sayville and Syosset.
Weekend weather outlook ... Gary Sinise partners with LI school ... Adult Happy Meals
Weekend weather outlook ... Gary Sinise partners with LI school ... Adult Happy Meals
