Education & Kids Bay Ridge

Fontbonne students join ranks of science elite

April 19, 2017 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Keara Donahue (left) and Isabella Grillo made their school proud with their top 10 showings at the New York City Science and Engineering Fair. Photo courtesy of Fontbonne Hall Academy
Keara Donahue (left) and Isabella Grillo made their school proud with their top 10 showings at the New York City Science and Engineering Fair. Photo courtesy of Fontbonne Hall Academy
Share this:

Fontbonne Hall Academy seniors Keara Donahue and Isabella Grillo impressed the judges at the recent New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF), a competition that attracted students from high schools across the city.

The two Fontbonne Hall students were named finalists in their respective categories.

Fontbonne, located at 9901 Shore Road in Bay Ridge, was the only Catholic high school in the city to have students advance to the final round of the competition.

Subscribe to our newsletters

The Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn Technical High School and Stuyvesant High School were also represented at the fair.

Donohue finished third in the category of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Her topic was “Gender Specific Associations between Childhood Maltreatment and the Development of Psychopathy.”

Grillo came in third in the category of Medicine and Health Sciences. Her topic was “Vitamin C as an Alternative Cancer Treatment to Restore TET Enzymatic Function in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.”

Sponsored by the New York City Department of Education and the City University of New York, the NYCSEF is the city’s largest high school research competition, attracting approximately 700 students. The students competed for a variety of prizes including the chance to represent New York City at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles.

The preliminary round was held City College of New York in Manhattan. The top 25-30 percent of students from each subject category was selected to participate in the final round at the American Museum of Natural History.

The NYCSEF application process required the students to submit their research papers along with supplemental forms with references from teachers and mentors.

Donahue and Grillo were among 10 Fontbonne Hall seniors to complete the school’s three-year Science Research Program. During the course of the program, students work with mentoring scientists to formulate specific research objectives.  Donohue’s mentor was Dr. Robert Latzman of Georgia State University. Dr. Luisa Cimmino of NYU Langone Medical Center served as Grillo’s mentor.

The next big event for young scientists at Fontbonne Hall will take place on May 24, when they present their work at the school’s Science Research Symposium.

 


Leave a Comment

Related Articles

Leave a Comment