Local students presenting at national science event
Greenwich students to represent state at science symposium
Three Greenwich High School students are among those who will represent Connecticut at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Virginia Beach, Va., April 12 through 15.
On March 4, high school students from across the state presented their original research at the 60th annual Connecticut Junior Science and Humanities Symposium at UConn Health in Farmington. The event is sponsored by UConn Health and the Connecticut Area Health Education Center.
In addition to cash and scholarship awards, the five students earned the chance to go to the symposium. Three were from GHS — senior Ambika Grover, who won first place as an oral presenter for her research involving design of a more effective emergency therapeutic treatment for ischemic stroke — a project that won her a finalist spot at the prestigious Regeneron Science Research Talent competition; junior Naomi Park, who won fourth place as an oral presenter for creating a practical and efficient method for removing carbon dioxide and crude oil from water using materials made from Styrofoam waste; and sophomore Justin Bernstein
who won first place as a poster presenter for his presentation of research on a novel therapeutic nanoparticle treatment designed to dissolve plaque buildup in arteries.
“For so many talented high school students, this symposium becomes the launching point for a rewarding career in science, engineering or healthcare,” said Dr. Brittany Knight, director of the CTJSHS program in a news release. “I was really impressed by the quality of the research this year. These students will do a great job representing Connecticut at the national symposium next month.”
Of the 60 students who applied to compete at CTJSHS this year, 17 were selected to give oral presentations and 20 were selected to present their research in poster format. They competed virtually before a panel of judges the weekend before the state symposium, and then shared their work with a live audience of their peers on the day of the symposium. Another 23 students displayed their work in a non-competitive online STEM poster exhibition.
Greenwich man wins big at poker event
Greenwich’s Stephen Song and his family celebrated his record-breaking win at the GPI Global Poker Awards Ceremony on March 3 at the PokerGO Studio ARIA Resort & Casino
in Las Vegas.
The Global Poker Index is a leaderboard index that ranks more than 450,000 live tournament poker players in the world. Player performance is assessed by their finishing positions in poker tournaments occurring over the last year. The player with the highest number of points wins the prestigious title of Player of the Year. The Mid-Major Player of the Year recognizes the top poker player involved in events with buy-ins up to $2,500.
Song’s 2022 poker success included 42 results, 18 top 10 finishes and two first places to capture the coveted two titles for the first time in GPI history. Song also received an additional two award nominations of Best Final Table Performance and Players’ Choice for Toughest Opponent.
Players Choice for Toughest Opponent is voted by the top 100 poker players in the world.
GHS picks winners of essay contest
The winners of the Greenwich High School Black History Month essay contest have been announced. Rafael Galvan won first place and Riona McKersie was runner up.
Students were asked to nominate a Black individual, dead or alive, who they believe should be included in the curriculum for American History who has been overlooked. They were to write a 500 word letter to the Board of Education explaining why their nominee should be included in theGHS American History Curriculum.
Galvan nominated Jane Bolin, who, according to his essay, was the first Black woman to graduate from Yale Law School and the first Black woman to serve as a judge in the United States.
McKersie nominated poet Phillis Wheatley, who lived during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Greenwich students make dean’s lists
Some local students were among those making dean’s lists at colleges and universities.
Lily Osgan of Old Greenwich has made Emmanuel College’s dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester. To earn a spot on the Dean’s List, Emmanuel students must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for a 16-credit semester.
Emmanuel College is a co-educational, residential institution with a 17-acre campus in the heart of Boston’s educational, scientific, cultural and medical communities.
Tufts University recently announced the dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester. Tufts University is located on campuses in Boston, Medford/Somerville and Grafton, Massachusetts, and in Talloires, France.
Among students earning dean’s list honors are Guadalupe Balaguer, Alexa Brust and Axel Ladd of Riverside; Allison Brea of Old Greenwich; Hayden Collins, Caroline Harkness, Pierce Husted, Ethan Ito, Kennedy King, Victoria Rivera and Jamie Yee of Greenwich; and Edward Iuteri and Jack Moore of Cos Cob.
Dean’s list honors at Tufts University require a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater.