Students to Represent Plainview-Old Bethpage in Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District’s John F. Kennedy High School (JFKHS) students Dara Gleeson and Jordyn Schor will represent their school at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2016. Both students qualified based on their participation in local science fairs. They will now bring their award-winning projects to the world’s largest international pre-college science competition to showcase their findings against 1,700 high school students from 75 countries, regions and territories for approximately $4 million in prizes.

“We could not be more proud of Dara and Jordyn as they go on to represent our school district in this international science competition,” said Superintendent Dr. Lorna Lewis. “These students have devoted time outside the classroom to research their projects and we applaud their diligence and dedication to academic excellence and wish them the best of luck this May. They should be very proud of their achievements.”

Dara conducted her research at Hofstra University in the microbiology lab of Dr. Javier Izquierdo and was awarded first place at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. She chose to study the microbes found along the commonly-cultivated grapevine, Vitis vinifera, used in the production of wine. Dara set out to determine what these microbes are, which parts of the vine they are located and if they could influence the flavor and development of a specific wine.

“Dara is a special young woman; diligent, hardworking and kind,” said JFKHS Research Coordinator Mary Lou O’Donnell. “She is amenable to suggestions, steadfast and determined and a pleasure to work with.”

Jordyn Schor won first place in the Behavioral Science category at the New York State Science and Engineering Fair for her project, completed in-house as a part of JFKHS’s Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology/Social Science Research program. She aimed to determine if using Golden Ratio Typography could improve reading comprehension abilities in nystagmus patients. Nystagmus is an ocular disorder characterized by uncontrollable eye movements, reduced visual acuity and decreased reading comprehension abilities and affects over 1.5 million people nationwide.

“Overall, this study has tremendous implications for the nystagmus community, in which Jordyn is a part of,” said Social Science Research teacher Ray Tesar. “Her project was birthed from necessity. Instead of accepting that nothing more could be done to aid her reading comprehension abilities, along with the abilities of other Nystagmus patients, she sought to find an unconventional method which could solve these issues. That is the essence of a great scientist.”

The Intel ISEF, a program of Society for Science and the Public (SSP), unites top scientific minds, showcasing their talents on an international stage where doctoral level scientists review and judge their work. Dara and Jordyn will compete in Phoenix, Arizona May 8-13, 2016.

For more information regarding Plainview-Old Bethpage School District and more District happenings, please visit pobschools.org.

Photo (l-r)—Plainview-Old Bethpage School District’s John F. Kennedy High School students Dara Gleeson and Jordyn Schor will represent their school at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2016. Both students qualified based on their participation in local science fairs. They will now bring their award-winning projects to the world’s largest international pre-college science competition.