By:Beth Wallach
"I was tutoring when my mom called to say I had been chosen," said Foley, who submitted a psychology project that tested the correlation between shyness and negative risk-taking in teenagers. Foley worked with Dr. Laura Krotenberg, a psychologist with the Rockville Centre School District, in preparing her research. She administered two different surveys to a test group of 60 high school students in grades 10 through 12. One survey measured shyness by asking for reactions to different social situations; the other quantified risk-taking behavior such as drinking, sexual experimentation and drug use.
With only three members of her entire test group admitting to characteristics of shyness, Foley was unable to reach definitive conclusions. But Foley, who is considering majoring in psychology in college, showed little disappointment with the inconclusiveness of her findings. "It made me re-evaluate the surveys," she said. "Maybe shy students are too inhibited to admit to shyness. They have a fear of being seen by their peers in a negative light."
Randell entered a biology project entitled "The Chemosensory Basis for Aggregation in Terrestrial Isopods." He worked with Dr. Peter Daniel, a professor of biology at Hofstra University. Over the course of two years, Randell studied four species of isopods, or potato bugs, which he referred to as "roly-poly" bugs. He tested to see how pheromones, a chemical the bugs release, reduced their ability to gather together. According to Randell, his findings revealed that the bugs tactilely use their antennas, and not their feet, for survival.
Richard Kurtz, a biology teacher at South Side, has been mentoring the school's Intel contestants since he arrived in Rockville Centre five years ago. Under his tutelage, South Side has produced seven Intel semifinalists, three of whom have gone on to become finalists. "These two are the most unassuming young people I have ever met," said Kurtz of Foley and Randell, who have yet to firm up their college plans. "They're incredible. They do what they do without needing to be told what to do. They are totally self-motivated."
Intel awards $1,000 to each semifinalist as well as to his or her school, which is to be used to enhance math and science programs. The company has doled out more than $1.8 million since 2000 in the interest of improving math and science in U.S. high schools. According to a recent press release from Intel, which is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., participants in the contest range from ages 15 to 18, and their projects represent all disciplines of science, including biology, chemistry, physics, math, engineering and the social sciences. Since the company was founded 64 years ago, according to the press release, "Intel alumni have been the recipients of more than 100 of the world's most coveted science and math honors including Nobel Prizes, National Medals of Science, MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, and Fields Medals."
Dr. Carol Burris, South Side's principal, was elated when the news about Foley and Randell reached her office. "I am very pleased that, once again, South Side High School has semifinalists in the Intel competition," she said. "David and Megan are outstanding, creative students, and I am thrilled for them and for our research teachers. All of our students in the research program work very hard, and it is wonderful when their efforts are recognized outside of the school."
The nature of the judging process, said Kurtz, is "very secretive," making it difficult to anticipate the results of the competition. Besides their submitted projects, the students were judged on the quality of six essays, academic scores and letters of recommendations. "It was a lot of work," said Foley, "but it paid off."
Intel will announce the 40 finalists on Jan. 26. The winner of the competition will be selected on March 15.
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