A Valley Stream resident and junior at Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead earned top recognition earlier this month for a research project examining the relationship between social media and academic-related outcomes.
Sameera Rampertab, 17, was awarded First Place Overall and a $1,000 prize at the 2026 Long Island Youth Summit, held April 17 at St. Joseph’s University. The event drew more than 300 participants representing 35 schools, with students from New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts submitting research papers, videos and artwork.
“Ms. Rampertab’s study was a remarkable work of science — thorough, sophisticated and creative,” summit co-director Nathalia Rogers said.
Rampertab’s winning paper, titled “Neurologic reward systems: Analyzing social media’s effects on academic performance,” focused on the intersection of biology and psychology. She was guided by her interest in neuroscience toward her work, particularly as she sought a project that could be conducted outside a traditional laboratory setting.
“I decided to go in the behavior direction,” Rampertab said. “I saw that, especially with the cellphone ban, social media was a really good topic to do.”
Her study combined survey-based research with biometric data collection. She developed a social media attachment scale and used established tools to measure anxiety levels among participants. The research involved 140 adolescent female students across Long Island, ages 13 to 18, and incorporated eye-tracking data and brain wave monitoring using commercially available technology.
Among her findings, Rampertab identified a relationship between higher levels of social media attachment and increased anxiety. She also examined sleep patterns and found that total daily time spent on social media was not a predictor of sleep quality, noting that pre-bedtime use was a more relevant factor. In addition, her data showed that negative social media comments were viewed longer than positive ones, and that physiological responses, such as beta brain wave activity and heart rate, rose during social media use.
“I think that the biology surprised me the most, I think the heart rate especially, and the beta waves surprised me the most, because this has mostly been done on adults in the past,” Rampertab said. “It was surprising that it could be replicated in female adolescents.”
She also adjusted her research design during the process, expanding from survey-based methods to include biometric measurements after determining that biological data could strengthen the study.
The project was developed with guidance from faculty at Sacred Heart Academy, including science research director Stephen Sullivan and department chair Beth Feinman. Sullivan described his role as advisory, emphasizing instruction in research methods, statistical analysis and critical reading of scientific literature while allowing students to develop their own hypotheses.
He said Rampertab has been engaged in independent research since the 10th grade and has consistently demonstrated growth. According to Sullivan, her work reflects the level of an undergraduate thesis and stands out for its integration of multiple disciplines, including neurobiology and psychology.
“She has become a wonderful presenter, but she was not as a ninth grader,” Sullivan said. “She is incredibly, incredibly talented, and she has grown. Sometimes, the weaker kids grow; she’s a strong kid who has grown.”
Sullivan also noted that the summit evaluates submissions in advance, with awards based on research quality rather than on presentations during the event. He said Rampertab’s project was competitive at the highest level and that it is uncommon for a junior to earn the top overall award.
At the summit, participants engaged in discussions with peers, professors and professionals in related fields, though formal presentations were not part of the competition process. Rampertab said she received positive feedback from faculty and other attendees, particularly regarding her use of biometric data.
Despite the scale of the event and the number of participants, Rampertab said her focus was on representing her school. She described the award as meaningful not only for her, but also for Sacred Heart Academy and the eight other girls who competed, noting that she wanted to contribute to the school’s record at the competition.
Sullivan highlighted her collaborative approach within the school’s research program, describing a structure in which students across grade levels support one another. He said Rampertab mentors younger students while continuing to build on her own work, reflecting a broader culture of peer collaboration.
“She’s a remarkable kid who I don’t think understands that,” Sullivan said. “She’s accomplished a lot, but I don’t know if she quite realizes that she’s special, which makes her more special.”
Looking ahead, Rampertab said she plans to pursue neuroscience, with a particular interest in researching neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. She added that the experience has strengthened her confidence in her academic and career goals.
For other students interested in research, she emphasized the importance of sustained interest, consistent effort and openness to new ideas. She also encouraged students to remain flexible and continue refining their work throughout the process.
Rampertab said representing Valley Stream at the competition was an honor and expressed hope that members of the community would take pride in the achievement.
