Hewlett High School junior named a regional finalist

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Hewewtt High School junior Nicholas Zumba was selected as a regional finalist in the 2017 Junior Science and Humanity Symposium for his research paper “Comparison of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Response to Difference PLA Composites (Molded vs. 3D Printed).” He is one of five students to receive this honor.

“I was filled with this rush of joy, but it also felt like there was some sort of weight that lifted from me,” Zumba said, when asked about how he felt when he found about his achievement.

He got involved with the program through his mentors Dr. Terrence Bissoondial, a research teacher at Hewlett High, and Dr. Adriana Pinkas-Sarafova from Stony Brook University. Zumba conducted his research as a participant of the Garcia Research Scholar Program at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Stony Brook University.

Zumba will attend the symposium from April 26 to 30 in San Diego. “I am so proud and so excited,” Nelson Zumba, Nicholas’ father, said.

The Junior Science and Humanity Symposium program, which is in its 55th year, encourages high school students to compete for scholarships and recognition for their STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) work. Workshops, panel discussions, career exploration, networking and research lab visits are incorporated into the program for students.

Regional finalists win an expense-paid trip to the National Junior Science and Humanity Symposium. The U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force sponsor the program.