Mineola High School hosted its first annual district STEAM Symposium at the high school on May 27. The five branches of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) were exhibited in the school gymnasium. It allowed the young elementary, middle and high school students to showcase some of their creative and compelling work.
How can you design a model home that will resist the force of hurricane-like winds? by third graders to Wind Turbines, Solar Cars and FLL Robotics Demonstration by middle school pupils to Mathematical Architecture, Pi Day and Coding: Scratch & HTML by high school students were all on display.
More than 100 participants showed off, demonstrated and explained their work with much enthusiasm to attendees, who had inquiring looks and quizzical gazes as they examined the exhibits.
“I’m so impressed with the work that the students of Mineola have done,” said Abbe Sargeant, Mineola resident and mother of middle-schooler Ethan Sargeant. “It’s something that all the younger kids can truly aspire to.”
Science research program students in freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years at the high school analyzed a wide range of interesting subjects such as ‘The Effect of Hand Sanitizer vs Soap and Water on Bacteria Growth,’’ Management of Social and Physical Stress Caused By School’’ Do Runners Perform Better When they Stretch or Don’t Stretch Before a Race,’ ‘Muscle Fatigue in Athletes,’ ‘Do Distractions Affect the Appearance of Physical Signs of Lying?’’ The Effect of Clove Oil on the Pain Response and Regeneration of Lumbriculus Variegatus.’
Parents, teachers, friends and faculty celebrated and witnessed 29 students honored and inducted into The Science National Honor Society, in a special ceremony at the school’s auditorium.
The Science National Honor Society is a science organization that honors and recognizes high school students who have excelled in the field of science. The organization is dedicated to identifying, inspiring and encouraging a new cadre of scientific young people.
Jennie Fahey, STEAM instructional leader at the high school, welcomed the attendees thanked all who made the night possible, and highlighted the achievements the science program made in the past year.
Dr. Ellen McGlade-McCulloh, Science National Honor Society faculty advisor, further elaborated on the accomplishment and talked about the growth Mineola Science Research program had experienced in the past year. Subsequently, honor society senior members Charlotte Ring, Monika Dharia and Craig Vande Stouwe made a slide presentation about their respective research projects “Assessing Soil Erosion through Run-off and Water-drop tests Under Acid Rain Attack,” “Evaluating the Estrogenicity, Androgenicity, and Toxicity of Urban-use Pesticides using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Bioluminescent Reporter System” and “Creating a System of Angle and Distance Sensitive Ratios for Facial Recognition.”
The five executive committee officers, Vande Stouwe, Allison Yarri, Dharia, Emily Abrams and Ana Gomes then introduced the new members individually and handed them each an official SNHS certificate.
The 2015-16 newly inducted members are Christopher Alexander, Pratibha Anand, Sanskriti Bimal, Daniela Borges, Michael Bowen, Madison Brady, Marissa Buonincontro, Christin Candela, Taylor Dalton, Mallory Donelan, Emma Fater, Jubilee Hwang, Lauren Jenkins, Linda Jin, Kyle Kern, Gina Koros, Meghan LaFaye, Catherine Leong, Matthew Milwood, Hugo Olcese, Eric Pereira, Dan Rhim, John Rhim, Mackenzie Schnaufer, Claudia Serna, Katie Shi, Emily Skupp, Joseph Tarantola and Matthew Tavernite.
Both old and new members posed on the risers for a group photograph which concluded the eventful night.
“It is wonderful to see so many of our students getting recognition tonight for their outstanding performance in the field of science,” said McGlade-McCulloh. “It’s so impressive how these brilliant young scholars immerse themselves within the subject.”
Estela Serna whose daughter Claudia, a junior, researched ‘The Effect of Carbon Nanotubes on the Regeneration and Mortality of Lumbriculus Variegatus’, said “I think that this night is a wonderful reflection of the hard work of the students and the astounding guidance they have received from teachers. It truly represents the growth and potential of the science department of the Mineola School District.”
