Allison Belfer, 14, of Manalapan, was selected as a semifinalist in the 2007 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. She was one of only two students selected from New Jersey to compete in this science contest for middle school students.
Allison was first selected as an award winner at the 2007 Delaware Valley Science Fair with her project “Nature’s Medicine or Myth?” where she investigated the possibility of using the American Elderberry plant as a safe and natural mosquito repellent. This project was developed as part of the SITES program at the Manalapan Englishtown Middle School.
Allison was selected from 1,960 formal entries, chosen from a pool of 75,000 students who entered science fairs nationwide.
Allison won first place in Medicine and Health at the Jersey Shore Science Fair, qualifying her to compete on the regional level at the Delaware Valley Science Fair (DVSF). At DVSF she once again received first place in Medicine and Health, and was awarded the bronze medal overall in the competition for the Junior Fair. This was only the second time a student from the Manalapan Englishtown Middle School achieved this stature.
Also at the 2007 Delaware Valley Science Fair, Allison received awards from the Philadelphia Drug Exchange, receiving a $200 savings bond, and the Scientific American Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education.
Allison is a freshman at the Monmouth County Academy of Allied Health and Science, Neptune. The school is a part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District. Allison hopes to pursue a career in medicine.