Three Herricks H.S. Students Selected as Intel Semifinalists
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It was announced on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 that three Herricks High School Science Research students were selected as semifinalists in the Intel Science Talent Search (Intel STS) competition. Steven Ham, Neil Patel and Vijay Raj were named among the nation’s three hundred semifinalists. The Intel STS, America’s oldest and most prestigious science competition is often called the “Junior Nobel Prize.” Originally sponsored by Westinghouse in 1942 and by Intel in 1998, the competition was created to encourage high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional ability in science, math and engineering through individual research projects. The national finalists will be announced on January 28, 2009. All three students will receive a $1,000 award from Intel for their outstanding science research. Additionally, to recognize excellence in teaching and school support of individual student research, Herricks High School will be eligible to receive $1,000 each for the three young men. This money is to be used to further excellence in science at the High School. Steven Ham, son of Sun and Young Ham of Roslyn, completed his two year neuroscience research project at SUNY Old Westbury. His project is entitled, “Exploring the Effects of Nicotine on the Expression of Molecular Compounds Associated with Alzheimer’s disease: A Novel Mechanism in Neuroprotection.” Neil Patel, son of Dharmista and Sureshchandra Patel of Albertson, completed his material science research project as a student the Garcia Center of Stony Brook University. His project is entitled, “The Mechanical Enhancement of Electrospun Fibers with Polyhedral Oligometric Silsesquioxanes.” Vijay Raj, son of Nirupa and Ramesh Raj of New Hyde Park, completed his biophysics research at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. His computer modeling research paper was entitled, “Predicting G-Protein Coupled Thermostability Conferred by Point Mutations.” All three young men have been in the Herricks High School Science Research program for four years. They were mentored by Renée Barcia, Science Research teacher.
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