Eight Ossining High School Students Named Intel Competition Semifinalists

Eight Ossining High School Students are among 300 semifinalists nationwide in the 2016 Intel Science Talent Search competition.

OHS, which boasts a prestigious Fundamentals of Science Research program, has more semifinalists than any other high school in New York. This is the second time the district has had eight semifinalists in a single year, said Angelo Piccirillo, who co-teaches the Science Research program with Valerie Holmes.

“It is an amazing achievement, particularly when you consider the great number of wonderful schools, teachers and students throughout New York and here in Westchester,” he said. “We are thankful for these fabulous students – those who were recognized by Intel and those who were not since they all deserve our admiration.”

The Intel Science Talent Search awards more than $1.6 million annually to promising high school scientists. Some 1,750 students from 512 high schools entered the competition this year.

The Society for Science & the Public, which created the competition in 1942, will announce 40 finalists on Jan. 20. The finalists will travel to Washington in March to present their work, participate in final judging and meet with prominent scientists, according to the organization. They will compete for more than $1 million, including three top awards of $150,000 each.

Semifinalists receive $1,000 each from the Intel Foundation, along with matching grants that are given to their schools. Intel has sponsored the competition for the past 18 years.

“We’re thrilled for our students and their teachers and are proud of their hard work,” Superintendent Raymond Sanchez said. “Congratulations to all. We look forward to seeing many great accomplishments from graduates of our wonderful Science Research program.”

Alumni of the Intel Science Talent Search have gone on to successful careers in science, technology, engineering and math. They have achieved top honors and recognition in their fields, said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of the Society for Science and the Public.

Here are the OHS semifinalists and the titles of their projects:
-- Jason Aguirre: “The Individual and Interactive Effects of Urban Contaminants on Mayfly Growth and Survival: A Study of How Common Contaminants Impact Aquatic Invertebrates.”

-- Kimberly Badger: “Urban Forests Fail to Provide Adequate Habitat for Native Woodpecker Species.”

-- Benjamin Feinstein: “An Examination of Linguistic and Cultural Influences on Visual-Gustatory Associations.”

-- Soon il Higashino: “Species Richness of Cutaneous Bacteria Varies with Urbanization: Implications of the Effects of Habitat Conditions on Defense Mechanisms of Plethodon Cinereus.”

-- Yasir Khan: “Developing Tools for an Antigen Specific ELISA to Prevent Transfusion-transmitted Babesiosis.”

-- Julia Riley: “RNF167 and Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme E2N Regulate Neuronal SNARE Component VAMP2 via Ubiquitination: Implications in Neuronal Function and Disease.”

-- Zoe Scheier: “Establishing Comorbidity between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Ambient Visual Dysfunctions.”

-- Claire Sukumar: “Elucidating the Association between Blood Pressure and Cognitive Functioning in the Very Old.”