By Karen Frantz
Several students who live in Queens were named as semi-finalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search, the country’s oldest pre-college science competition that recognizes outstanding research.
Middle Village teenager Aishvarya Arora, 17, who attends St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, was named a semi-finalist for her work on interpretive biases for ambiguous information in adolescents with Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
Four teens who attend Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan but live in Queens were also recognized as semi-finalists: Amanpreet Singh Kandola, 17, of Richmond Hill; Jongyoon Lee, 18, of Little Neck; Antara Majumdar, 17, of Astoria; and Carolyn Yao, 17, of Whitestone.
In addition, two Queens teenagers who attend the Bronx High School of Science were named as semi-finalists: Megan Bushlow, 17, of Kew Gardens, and Amanda Elyssa Ruiz, 17, of Bellerose.
Although the Queens semi-finalists did not proceed to the final round, they each will receive a $1,000 award and a certificate of accomplishment that are of valuable for use in college admissions. The students’ schools also received a $1,000 award to recognize excellence in teaching and support of student research.
The students were among 300 semi-finalists, who were chosen from 1,712 entrants from schools across the United States and overseas.
Reach reporter Karen Frantz by e-mail at kfrantz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
