Hewlett students continue to shine as six are Junior Science semifinalists

Hewlett High School students continue to be recognized for their skills in science research, as six have been named 2023 Junior Science and Humanities Symposium semifinalists.

“Our community values research, and our specific programs are designed to support our students in their research investigations,” Principal Alexandra Greenberg stated in a news release. “We are so proud of our six students and their contributions to the field of academia.”

All of the students are enrolled in the Hewlett Science Research program, which encompasses a social science program as well. Junior Alexandre Tourneux and seniors Ethan Abelev and Mikayla Joseph are involved in the science program, while seniors Abigail Khaytman, Michael Pignatelli and Olivia Ginzburg take part in the social science program.

Students conduct independent research that lends itself to competitions such as the JSHS, which recognizes excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as the humanities. The students compete at the regional level, and semifinalists are chosen for the national symposium.

Tourneux’s project, in the field of genetics, is titled “The Annotation of Novel Datasets for the Training of Cellori (Cell Origin) Spots, A Deep Learning Algorithm for RNA FISH Detection.”

Abelev’s project, “Monocarbony curcumin analogs C66 and B2BrBC down regulate selected genes involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in breast cancer,” investigated treatments for breast cancer.

“Orthologue of Root Hair Defective 3 (RHD3) in Ceratopteris richardii is Affected by DNA Methylation and Regulates Rhizoid Development in Gametophytes,” Joseph’s project, studied a gene that helps increase absorption of nutrients in plants.

The students in the science program were under the guidance of science research coordinator Terrence Bissoondial, who also advised them on how to develop their research papers.

“It is wonderful to see that students from Hewlett H.S. can develop scientific research in a range of topics” like plant biology, oncology, computer science, social science, Bissoondial wrote in an email. “These projects are distinguished in competitions such as JSHS.”

In the social science program, Khaytman’s project, “Possessing More Influence Than They Realize: An Investigation of Factors Affecting Maternal Awareness of and Response to Adolescent Cyber bullying studied mothers’ awareness of cyberbullying.

Pignatelli’s project, “A Novel Approach to the Nature of Kindness: An Examination of Factors Affecting the Practice of Kindness among High School Students,” studied three types of kindness. Pignatelli got the idea when he returned to the classroom as the coronavirus pandemic died down.

Ginzburg’s project, “How Do Adolescents Manage Worry? An Examination of Factors Affecting Worry Among High School Students,” studied adolescents’ worries about their academic, family and social lives.

Hewlett High’s social science coordinator, Joseph Van Wie, has worked with the three social science semifinalists since they took his honors class in world history as freshmen.

“Early on, I recognized their analytical, critical thinking, research, and writing abilities,” Van Wie wrote in an email. “I knew they would be ideal candidates for the Social Science Research Program.”

In the semifinals of the competition, set for Sunday at York College in Queens, the students will give 12-minute presentations to judges who specialize in their fields in an open forum.

Pignatelli said that Van Wie’s guidance on how to make a good impression on the judges had helped him prepare. “Mr. Van Wie has been extremely helpful with this process,” he said, “helping me highlight the best parts of my paper to share and giving me time to practice presenting.”

The semifinalists will have the opportunity to win tuition-based scholarships of up to $2,000. The top five will advance to the National JSHS, on Feb. 25 at York, where they will have a shot at $12,000 in undergraduate tuition scholarships.

“Dr. Bissoondial does a phenomenal job,” Tourneux said. “We work really tirelessly on trying to perfect wording that is accurate and understanding to the audience you are trying to reach.”