Students enrolled in the Ossining High School Science Research Program have once again earned top honors at another prestigious event. Ten OHS students were recognized at the Genius Olympiad International Science Competition during an award ceremony on June 18. The global contest recognizes outstanding scientific research presentations in the areas of Environmental Quality, Ecology and Biodiversity, Resource and Energy, Human Ecology, or Innovation.
OHS Junior Samara Davis earned the highest Grand Gold Award for the best overall science project for her research on “Developed Molecular Biology Techniques to Improve Survey Methods for Elusive Salamanders.”
OHS Senior Katelyn Wasilenko, who’s research project on “Pediatric BMSC Exosome Treatment Requires Interaction with Bone Tissue Defect Environment to Improve Bone Repair,” earned her a gold medal.
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Sarah Jennings, Melissa Suquisupa, Angelica Arevalo, Charlotte Klurfeld took home silver medals.
Joseph Robertazzi, Caera Matthews, and Juan Carlos Desmaras won the bronze, with Stella Brail earning an Honorable Mention title.
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“These dedicated students have once again made our community proud,” said Superintendent of Schools Ray Sanchez. “By placing in the top spots globally, they have proved that our science program is among the best in the world. I have nothing but respect and admiration for these young scholars and their teachers.”
Genius Olympiad is an international high school project competition about environmental issues and is hosted by the Rochester Institute of Technology. The competition provides challenges and opportunities for students to promote and contribute to greater environmental sustainability throughout their lives.
This year’s competition saw 1,609 projects submitted from 57 different countries, with 659 originating in the United States. The number of science projects accepted totaled 441 out of 841 submissions.
"This is an awesome international competition, it is such an honor to see them emerge with so many medals,” OHS science teacher Valerie Holmes said of the students. “Their success is certainly the result of all their hard work, but we must also recognize the support they received from their mentors as well — none of this would have been possible without the expert scientists who helped to guide and support them.”
Ms. Holmes serves as the director of the OHS Science Research Program, which began in 1998 and has since grown to include more than 100 students. Scholars enrolled in the program can earn up to 12 college credits through the University of Albany. The program is co-directed by OHS science teacher Angelo Piccirillo.
“We are very proud of all of these students for their research and their desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others,” Mr. Piccirillo said.
