H.S. Senior Earns Rare, Distinguished Honor

SEAFORD, NY — A Seaford High School student achieved a perfect grade on Advanced Placement Research exam.

Chelsea Russo joins the select company of only 375 high school students worldwide with the exquisite score.

She earned the top score of a 5 and also received every possible point on her research paper and her oral presentation.

With the topic, "Do the non-nutritive sweeteners Ace-K and neotame adversely impact the regeneration of planaria?” she extrapolated the data to see if the sweeteners could lead to neurodegenerative diseases in humans.

"Not only did she get the highest score possible," AP Research teacher Tania Cintorino said in a statement, "but she did her project in half the time. It’s such a rare distinction and obviously impressive."

AP Research is the second part of the AP Capstone program. Students work independently to research topics of personal interest.

As a sophomore, Russo took the introductory class, AP Seminar, co-taught by English teacher Kim Flood and social studies teacher Michael Engelke, which focuses on the acquisition of research skills in small-group and independent projects.

She wants to pursue research opportunities in college and explained that researchers must present their work, according to the Seaford School District.