Students shine in Science Talent Search

Science News, Jan 29, 2000 by J. Travis

The recent changing of the century--and the millennium, depending upon how one interprets the calendar--has inevitably prompted speculation about what the coming years will hold for science and technology. If the success of past competitors is any indication, the 40 finalists in this year's Intel Science Talent Search, who were announced this week, will have a large say in that future.

"We applaud these young scientists--our country's future leaders, thinkers, and innovators. Their grounding in science and math is crucial to making sense of today's technological world and making the best decisions for tomorrow," says Craig R. Barrett, president and chief executive officer of Intel Corp. in Santa Clara, Calif., the sponsor of the competition for high school seniors.

Science Service, the publisher of SCIENCE NEWS, administers the contest, which this year drew 1,517 applications from 530 high schools in 48 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. In addition to a computer and a $5,000 scholarship, each finalist receives an all-expenses-paid trip in March to Washington, D.C., to compete for further prizes, including the top award of a $100,000 scholarship.

With research projects in biology, math, physics, and many other scientific fields, the 40 finalists are:

* Arkansas: Robert Y. Wang, Conway H.S., Conway.

* California: Dilip Bobby Biswal, Monte Vista H.S., San Ramon; Bob Wen-Chieh Cherng, Troy H.S., Whittier; Nancy Huynh, Alhambra H.S., Alhambra; Elizabeth Keiko Williams, Palos Verdes Peninsula H.S., Palos Verdes Estates.

* District of Columbia: Patrick Laughlin Kelly, Sidwell Friends School, Washington.

* Florida: Helen Irene Wiersma, Okeechobee H.S., Okeechobee; Benjamin David Zusman, Pine Crest School, Hollywood.

* Hawaii: Lizhou Lisa Wang, Iolani School, Honolulu.

* Iowa: Feng Zhang, Theodore Roosevelt H.S., Des Moines.

* Kentucky: Matthew Burton Reece, Dupont Manual Magnet H.S., Louisville.

* Maryland: Elizabeth Michal Epstein, Montgomery Blair H.S., Chevy Chase; Joshua Michael Levy, Quince Orchard H.S., Gaithersburg; Jonathan Simon, Montgomery Blair H.S., Chevy Chase.

* Massachusetts: Brian David Hemond, Lexington H.S., Lexington; William Axel Leight, Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, Cambridge.

* Montana: Jayce Robert Getz, Big Sky H.S., Missoula.

* New York: Zachary Howard Cohn, Half Hollow Hills H.S. East, Dix Hills; Joel Christopher Corbo, Regis H.S., Ridgewood; Kerry Ann Geiler, Massapequa H.S., Massapequa Park; Lucas Maccabee Hanft, Paul D. Schreiber Senior H.S., Port Washington; Jonathan Hertz, Half Hollow Hills H.S. East, Huntington Station; Adam Scott Kahn, Hackley School, Briarcliff Manor; Jennifer Ahjin Kim, Byram Hills H.S., Armonk; Beeneet Kothari, Half Hollow Hills H.S. West , Deer Park; Kristin Elizabeth Kovner, Paul D. Schreiber Senior H.S., Port Washington; Chrisann Kyi, John Jay H.S., South Salem; Evan Matthew Fink, Stuyvesant High School, New York; Vincent Wai Fong, Byram Hills H.S., Pleasantville; Alexandra Neuhaus-Follini, Chapin School, New York; Viviana Ioana Risca, Paul D. Schreiber, Senior H.S., Port Washington; Gordon B. Schmidt, Bethlehem Central H.S., Selkirk; Eugene Michael Simuni, Midwood H.S. at Brooklyn College, Brooklyn; Emmanuelle Nathalie St. Jean, Midwood H.S. at Brooklyn College, Brooklyn.

* North Carolina: Christopher Ethan Smoak, William G. Enloe H.S., Cary; Jonathan Donald Williams, West Rowan H.S., Cleveland.

* Pennsylvania: Alexander Benjamin Schwartz, Radnor H.S., Bryn Mawr.

* Texas: Priyanka Agarwal, Texas Academy of Mathematics & Science, Fort Worth; Stefan Merrill Block, Plano Senior H.S., Plano.

* Washington: Steven Alexander Hickman, Sehome H.S., Bellingham.