By:Hector Flores
Barbi Frank, a science-research mentor at Kennedy High School, said there were 10 categories to enter in the JSHS competition: biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, education, environmental science, genetics, math/computer science, medicine/health, physics and psychology. The competition required student researchers to enter one category each and present their research findings to a group of experts using a Power Point presentation. For each section, there were first-, second- and third- place winners.
The three Kennedy winners were: Samantha Goldman, 17, who came in first place in psychology for her work studying the connection between children's sensitivity to bitter tastes and their intake of high fat foods; Carol Eisenstat, 17, who was named a first-place winner in cellular biology for her work in increasing cotton output by enhancing the production of microscopic fibers; and Gayle Denman, 17, who took second place in physics for her work with a cancer detection procedure called radiation-force elastography, which uses focused, high-intensity sound beams to identify malignant cells.
This competition marks another milestone for the girls, who were among the eight Bellmore-Merrick High School District semi-finalists in the recent Intel Science Research Competition.
Their victory also reaffirms the success of the Central District's Authentic Science Research program, which not only gives the students the opportunity to conduct college- and graduate-level research, but builds self-esteem and provides the skills necessary in today's high-tech work environment.
"It has been amazing," said Vicki Goldman, Samantha Goldman's mother. "The science program at Kennedy has been a great gift to my daughter. She has learned so many things: doing interviews, public speaking, time management and research.
"This is a wonderful experience that she would not have gotten anywhere else," Mrs. Goldman added. "Just to be able to do this in a high school has given her such an edge over other high school students."
Eisenstat, who is determined to enroll in a six- or seven-year medical program in college, said, "A high school straight to medical school program. My parents didn't push me, I pushed myself. My parents are from Russia, and they didn't have the opportunity I did. I wanted to push myself for my parents and this country."
Eisenstat realized the difference in opportunities between the two countries when she spent some time in Russia. "I volunteered my time in Russia at St. Petersburg," she said. "I was a volunteer at a hospital, and I saw horrible conditions. That experience made me grateful for being born here.
"In Russia, there is no reward for your work," she added. "There is no distinction for a person's achievement, no drive or incentive."
Denman also added that without the support of the school's faculty non of the student's research and findings would have been made possible.
"Basically its a long program and most of us have been researching for the last three years," she said. "They have helped us out along the way and this would not be possible without them."
