Lynbrook High School senior named Intel semifinalist

Andrew Meersand, 17, built a soft robotic grasper he developed that earned him semifinalist status in Intel’s Science Talent Search.

Nick Ciccone/Herald

The device that Andrew Meersand developed proved its versatility by grabbing objects of various sizes and weights.

Courtesy Andrew Meersand

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Andrew Meersand, 17, was sitting in math class on Jan. 6 at around noon when he heard a surprising announcement over the P.A. by Lynbrook High School Principal Joseph Rainis.

“They don’t usually interrupt classes for announcements,” Meersand said. “I was like, ‘Oh, the results came in … someone must have won.’”

Rainis announced that Meersand had been named a semifinalist in the nationwide Intel Science Talent Search, for a robotic grasper he had developed and tested. “He said my name and I just started screaming in class,” he said with a laugh.

The honor comes with $1,000 cash prizes for both Meersand and the high school’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program, and the potential for Meersand to advance to the final phase of the competition. STEM education is one of the target areas included in the high school’s proposed $45 million bond vote on March 15.

Under the guidance of science research teacher David Shanker, Meersand was among 12 seniors who submitted Intel research project reports, in fields as varied as robotics, environmental science, biochemistry, nanotechnology, physics, behavioral science, neurology and psychology. “We’re very proud of Andrew and this wonderful accomplishment,” said Superintendent Melissa Burak. “He has worked meticulously and diligently to achieve this goal, and it is well-deserved.”

Immediately after learning he was a semifinalist, Andrew called his mother, Lesley Meersand, as his classmates excitedly listened in via speakerphone.

“He’s worked very hard and sacrificed a lot to accomplish all he has,” his mother said. “Most of all, we’re proud of the great person that he is …”

Meersand, who lives in East Rockaway, said that his father, Jeffrey Meersand, is an auto mechanic, and exposed him to the engineering world at a young age. Andrew said there were always tools lying around at home, which piqued his interest — and he’s had his eye on the Intel competition for four years.

His research led him to email the Harvard Biodesign Lab, where he had learned of work being done on soft robotic graspers. Harvard invited him to be mentored by Donal Holland, a visiting lecturer in engineering sciences, last summer.