Way to go: Daniel Barbakoff, Woodbury
Daniel Barbakoff, of Woodbury, recently claimed the state's top spot in a prestigious national exam.
The ninth-grader at Long Island School for the Gifted in Huntington Station was named New York State champion of the American Scholastic Achievement League's Scholastic Challenge Exam 2012, a 100-question multiple-choice online test that covers everything from history to science.
Barbakoff said his ranking as state champ was revealed during an announcement over his school's loudspeaker -- which he actually missed.
"I came in late, just as they were doing the announcements," said Barbakoff, 13, who called himself a "math and science person." "Everyone was congratulating me, and I wasn't sure what was going on."
He participated in the annual exam last spring, when he was in eighth grade. Students achieving a score over 60 are deemed "exceptional," league officials said.
The exam, which was timed to last an hour, was open to eighth-graders nationwide. Schools can enter groups of 30 students for $70, with a $2 payment for each additional pupil.
Barbakoff is on tennis and crew teams, and volunteers to help with bar mitzvah preparations at North Shore Synagogue in Syosset.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 3: Top football teams in action, fantasy update and plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on the Northport and Half Hollow Hills East matchup, plus Tess Ferguson has an update on the high school fantasy football standings and Jared Vailuzzi has the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 3: Top football teams in action, fantasy update and plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on the Northport and Half Hollow Hills East matchup, plus Tess Ferguson has an update on the high school fantasy football standings and Jared Vailuzzi has the plays of the week.
