By Hector Flores
It has been a whirlwind of a school year for 17-year-old Carol Eisenstat, a Kennedy High School senior who recently earned international recognition for her science research project, which explored the possibility of increasing cotton output by enhancing the production of microscopic fibers.
Eisentstat came in fourth in botany at the International Science and Engineering Fair competition in Portland, Ore. "I was elated when I found out," she said. "I was extremely happy, and felt that I had finally accomplished success with my research project, which I had started three years ago. Not in my wildest dreams did I think that my project would bring me this far."
The fair attracted more than 1,200 students from 40 nations, who competed in 10 categories. The competition ran May 8 to 15, and on Wednesday, May 12, Eisenstat presented her project to 17 judges.
"The judges came to my board [which details her project], and I had to give them a 10-minute synopsis on my project and then answer questions," Eisenstat said. The senior added that the questions were difficult, because they tested her knowledge of science and other subjects.
She also said that her trip wasn't limited just to the competition; in her leisure time, Eisenstat met with students from all over the world. Most important, she was given the opportunity to share her research findings with other students and to meet with Nobel Prize winners in science.
Dr. Thomas Caramore, the Bellmore-Merrick Central schools superintendent, said he was gratified to know that the district's research students were competing locally, regionally and now internationally. "I have always said that Bellmore-Merrick's research program is world-class; now we have evidence of that," he said.
Barbi Frank, a Kennedy biology teacher and research mentor, said that Eisenstat's success with her research is encouraging. "This is exciting for the whole research program, because students have now seen where their research can take them," she said.
The district's Authentic Science Research Program begins preparing high school students to compete in local and regional science competitions by starting them on their research projects in ninth grade.
This year, Eisenstat's research project placed her among eight district semifinalists in the nationwide Intel Science Research Contest. She also took first place at the Adelphi Junior Science Symposium in cell biology. And at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair in March, she placed first in botany. This win led to her acceptance in the international science competition in Portland.
Eisenstat's hard work also earned her a spot in a seven-year medical program at the Sophie Davis School of Bio Medical Education in Manhattan. She said the program will enable her to graduate with a medical degree in seven years. First she must complete five years at Sophie Davis, followed by two years at either New York University Medical, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Downstate Medical, Syracuse Medical School, Albany Medical College or New York Medical College.
Eisenstat's father, Ralph, said the opportunity for his daughter to attend medical school was one of the main reasons that he immigrated to the United States from Russia. "I am very proud," he said. "Carol is a very smart kid, and now she is going to medical school. This is something that would have been impossible in Russia."
This year's experience made Carol realize that anything is possible for her with hard work. She is now considering her next challenge -- deciding on what kind of doctor she wants to become. "Being that there are so few female surgeons," she said, "I think that becoming a surgeon will be my next challenge. I know that by working very hard, I will be able to accomplish that goal."
Eisenstat made it clear that without the help of the Central District's Authentic Science Research Program, none of her accomplishments would have been possible. "I'm just very grateful to have been accepted into the program in ninth grade," she said. "I could not have gotten this far without the help of my teachers and parents."
