Way to Go: Roshni Sethi, Plainview

Roshni Sethi recently turned the story of her father's successful angioplasty into a national victory.

The freshman at John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview placed second in the 2012 DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition, which asked students to write about a technological or scientific development that captures their imagination. This year's competition attracted more than 9,000 submissions nationwide.

Roshni's essay, "A Heart of Gold," described the heart attack and angioplasty that her father experienced on the day of her birth, as well as the use of gold nanowires to electronically stimulate heart tissue.

She received a $3,000 savings bond and an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

"I'm really proud and thankful to win," said Roshni, 14. Recalling when she was notified of her achievement, she said: "It was so suspenseful. They [DuPont] wouldn't tell the results until I dialed into a conference call."

Roshni participates in her school's Science Olympiad and Model UN teams

and is a member of the track team.

"Roshni represents a special type of student we're blessed with at Plainview-Old Bethpage," said Mary Lou O'Donnell, the school's research coordinator.