Science takes top honors at recognition meeting

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

Science takes top honors
at recognition meeting
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — Science was the prevailing category recognized last week when the Board of Education honored district students and staff for exemplary work.

The June 12 meeting, held before a large crowd at the Hammarskjold Middle School, found the board approving many resolutions commending those who excelled this year in sports, mathematics and many other types of programs, but much of the spotlight this year belonged to East Brunswick’s science programs.

The board honored students who placed well in the state Science Olympiad in March. In this program, high school students Yan Cui and Grace Yeung earned first-place awards in cellular biology; Chao Ye and Bob Zhao won first in chemistry lab; and Neil Nayak and Matt Wasserman took top honors in "Mission Possible." The competition tested students’ knowledge of subject matter, laboratory and engineering skills, and their abilities to analyze data.

Also honored in the resolution were teacher advisers Louise Jasko and Karen Posluszny.

Members of the high school’s Science Team took one of the top prizes in the New Jersey Math League competition. The board recognized Jessica Dweck, Matea Marsic, Stephanie Zhang and Bob Zhao for their efforts in this event, in which the school finished first in the Chemistry II category.

The resolution made note of Stephanie Zhang, who received a $200 scholarship for being the individual leader in the Chemistry II category, and the group’s adviser, high school science teacher Paul Kimmel.

The board also honored students Gil Palmon, Joachim Roux, Jonathan Tarella and Chao Ye for finishing first in the state in the Physics I category of the New Jersey Science League.

A resolution was given to high school student Bob Zhao, who was one of 20 national winners in the National High School Chemistry Olympiad. He won after a set of examinations at the regional and national levels, and a test consisting of nearly five hours of multiple choice questions, a free response portion and a lab.

East Brunswick High School students were commended for their feats in the 53rd annual Merck State Science Day contest. The students took standardized tests in biology, chemistry, physics and integrated science. They took home a first-place win in chemistry and another in the integrated component, and also won the cumulative first-place award. Students Harrison Hsu and Greg Koytiger also were deemed Merck scholars for finishing tied for third in the individual category.

Members of the high school’s Waksman Student Scholars Research Club were honored for their participation in the Scientific Research Competition at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. They won best overall in the Large Program category for a presentation of their research.

The school board also recognized the high school orchestra, chamber orchestra and concert choir. The groups competed in the national Festival of Excellence in May, and walked away with numerous awards. The orchestra, under the direction of teacher Gordon Tedeschi, won a first-place award, while the chamber orchestra, also under Tedeschi, earned second. The concert choir, under teacher Kathleen Spadafino, took second place in its category.

The board also recognized students who took part in the 2003 Rutgers Model Congress. About 80 East Brunswick High School and Churchill Junior High School students worked with students from across the nation to pass numerous pieces of legislation. Some 24 of the East Brunswick students were recognized for their individual work at the conference.

Also honored with resolutions were Andrew Lipsky, who served as the student representative to the school board for 2002-03; the Bowne-Munro School, which won a state Best Practice Award for its Student Directed Learning Program; and the high school boys’ volleyball team, which won a state championship.