Livingston Education Foundation

May 31, 2011 - On Wednesday, May 25, Livingston High School seniors Kelly Zhang and Joy Ming received scholarship awards as part of the LHS Sixth Annual Science Research Symposium.  The Science Research Program is a three-year course sequence that provides students with a chance to perform authentic scientific research as a part of their high school experience.

 

Beginning in the tenth grade, students gain background information about a topic of their choice.  Over the three years, students learn more about their topic by dissecting articles for presentations to peers, discussing various types of statistical analysis and simulating the writing of a grant.  The students then obtain a mentor who works in the field associated with their topic of interest and dedicate the summers following their sophomore and junior years conducting research in their mentor’s laboratory.   

 

As part of the scientific research process, students learn how to create hypotheses, perform experiments to collect data, analyze and discuss results and conclusions, and compile the results in the form of a research paper.  During senior year, students complete the writing of their papers which are then presented at local, state and national competitions.  Taught by Mr. Brian Carey, Dr. Nuni-Lyn Walsh and Mr. Eric Weis, this year, all three Science Research classes met during first period so that students could learn from and with peers across the grades. 

 

Through the program and in conjunction with the University of Albany, students were given the opportunity to earn college credit for their research and studies over the year and during the summer.

 

The Science Research Symposium  afforded  parents, the community and future Science Research participants the opportunity to hear students talk about the learning process, listen and ask questions about senior Power Point presentations on individual topics, and then view poster presentations made by sophomores and juniors who are preparing for the next phase in the research process.  The seniors who presented their research included Terence An, Michael Bao, Connie Cheng, Dillon Cislo, Joel Grebel, Joy Ming, Sharmili Rahkit, Ellika Salari, Katie Simko, Todd Waldenberg, Benjamin Wang, Lauren Wolfe and Kelly Zhang.

 

Two Livingston families created Science Research Awards through the Livingston Education Foundation (LEF) to be presented to graduating seniors for their outstanding performance and scholarship.  The Stocks Family Scholarship Award for $200 donated by Gail and Ian Stocks and presented by their son Collin was presented to Kelly Zhang in recognition of her contributions to Science Research and Science Olympiad.  Collin, a 2010 graduate of LHS was greatly influenced by his experience through Science Research and Science Olympiad.  He currently attends The Cooper Union in NYC and will be continuing research this summer with his past mentor on the topic he researched while at LHS in the Science Research Program.  A second scholarship was presented to Joy Ming in honor of the Livingston High School’s Science Research teachers to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of a student who exemplifies extraordinary passion and dedication in the field of Science Research.  The award for $200 was donated by Margie and Barry Wolfe.  Their daughter Lauren Wolfe, also a graduating senior has enjoyed the benefits of the Science Research Program.  Each family felt strongly that Science Research has made a positive influence on their children and want to encourage others to participate in the process.

 

Kelly Zhang, who presented research on Checking for A-to-I RNA Editing in the Homo Sapiens Zinc Finger Protein 414, hopes to “continue her scientific endeavors when she attends Duke University in the fall”. 

 

Joy Ming, who researched Volumetric and Functional Analysis on the Thalamus in Adolescents with Autism will be attending Harvard University in the fall, concentrating in Mind, Brain, and Behavior and Global Health and Health Policy.  She hopes to “combine [her] passion for science and research with the reformation of policy to help improve the quality of life of individuals with autism as well as other disabilities”.

 

“LEF is thankful to the Stocks and Wolfe families for reaching out to the Foundation as an umbrella organization that can help to provide scholarships for Livingston students.  We wish all of the graduating seniors well as they move on to college in the fall.  We know that the experience that this outstanding Science Research Program has provided will serve them well as they pursue future studies,” said Heidi Cislo, president of LEF.  Click here to read more about the LHS Science Research Program.

 

If you would like to see photos from the Science Research Symposium or read more about the Science Research Program online, go to the LEF website at www.livingston.org/lef.