Students Earn Top Prizes at Nation’s Premier
STEM Competition
Jay Zussman of Great Neck, N.Y. Wins Top
Individual Prize;William Crugnola of Jericho, N.Y. and
Ekaterina Mazalkova of Valley Stream, N.Y. Win Top Team
Prize
Months of dedication and hard work in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) paid off tonight for three
students named National Finalists in the Siemens Competition in
Math, Science & Technology, the nation’s premier research
competition for high school students. Jay Zussman of Great Neck,
N.Y. earned the top honors and a $3,000 individual scholarship for
research on improving reproductive health through meiosis. Research
on aortic-derived mesenchymal stem cells earned William Crugnola of
Jericho, N.Y. and Ekaterina (Katie) Mazalkova of Valley Stream,
N.Y. the $6,000 team scholarship.
Jay Zussman is the individual category
winner of the Siemens Competition regional event held at Carnegie
Mellon University. He advances to the National Finals in
Washington, D.C. (Photo: Business Wire)
The students presented their research this weekend to a panel of
judges from Carnegie Mellon University, host of the Region Four
Finals. They will now present their work on a national stage in
Washington, D.C., December 5-9, 2014, where $500,000 in
scholarships will be awarded, including two top prizes of $100,000.
The Siemens Competition, a signature program of the Siemens
Foundation, is administered by Discovery Education.
“By investing a significant amount of their time and energy,
these remarkable students are advancing research and exploration in
critical fields,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens
Foundation. “I applaud these finalists for their outstanding
achievements and wish them luck in the next phase of the
competition.”
The Winning Individual
Jay Zussman, a senior at Great Neck South High School in Great
Neck, N.Y., won the individual category and a $3,000 scholarship
for his project, titled “Zip1 C-Terminal Phosphorylation Promotes
Zip1-Sgs1 Interaction in Meiotic Cells.”
Jay’s research aims to improve reproductive health through the
mechanism of meiosis. Wanting to both improve his understanding of
meiosis as well as the proper gamete formation to assist with the
eradication of karyotypic diseases in humans, he discovered a novel
protein-protein interaction in meiosis that could help circumvent
errors in human gamete formation. Jay’s experiments lead to a model
explaining transitions between multiple pathways of meiosis. His
work suggests that when one pathway fails, a component of the
machinery, Zip1, can encourage a switch to another pathway through
specific molecular interactions with the protein Sgs1.
“Jay is studying the mechanism of meiosis, a fundamental
biological pathway that enables proper exchange of genetic
information and subsequent segregation to produce haploid cells for
reproduction,” said Dr. John Woolford, Professor of Biological
Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. “Errors in this process
result in debilitating diseases in humans, hence its importance on
society. I’m impressed with the amount of emotion behind Jay’s
work. He is very passionate about his science, and the potential
benefits for mankind and improving reproductive health.”
Jay has always been intrigued by the way existing complex life
gives rise to new life. “I’m fascinated by the concept that
detailed research can yield discoveries that improve human quality
of life,” Jay stated. “I'm especially excited by the progress made
on stimulating stem cells to grow human organs and tissues for
transplants.”
Jay cites biology as his favorite subject in school. He is a
two-time semifinalist in the United States Biology Olympiad, a
two-time 2nd place winner at the WAC Invitational Science Fair, and
captain of his school’s National Science Bowl team. An accomplished
clarinetist, he has performed at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall
three times. He also finds time to swim, compete in lacrosse, and
play the saxophone, ukulele, guitar, bass, and drums. He would like
to work as a physician one day in the future.
Jay is especially grateful to his mentor Dr. Nancy Hollingsworth
for all the support and guidance she has given him.
The Winning Team
Seniors William Crugnola of Jericho High School in Jericho, N.Y.
and Katie Mazalkova of Valley Stream Central High School in Valley
Stream N.Y., won the team category and will share a $6,000
scholarship for their project, titled “Aortic-Derived Mesenchymal
Stem Cells: A Novel Target for Atherosclerosis Treatment.”
William and Katie studied a strain of aortic stem cells and
their role in the immune response that causes atherosclerosis. They
discovered a fundamental mechanism of aortic-derived mesenchymal
stem cells that could be blocked to inhibit the progression of
atherosclerosis. Ultimately, their research, along with their
follow-up studies, could develop new ways of treating heart
disease.
“This team focused on the biology of atherosclerosis, a major
cause of cardiovascular disease,” explained Brooke M. McCartney,
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon
University. “William and Katie made a surprising observation that a
particular population of mesenchymal stem cells found in the aorta
appears to promote the uptake of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by
macrophages – a key step in the development of atherosclerosis.
Their preliminary studies have identified several candidate
proteins that may mediate the interaction between the stem cells
and the macrophage, and they predict that these may be good targets
for the development of drugs to block this step in the progression
of atherosclerosis.”
With biology being his favorite subject in school, William is
intrigued by the nuances and complex interdependencies of the human
body, and has been specifically interested in stem cells since he
was a child. “In elementary school, I remember watching news
stories regarding the controversy surrounding stem cell research.
This prompted me to learn about stem cells, and from then on doing
stem cell research became my goal,” William stated.
Having received a National Merit Commendation, William also
finds time to compete on his school’s varsity swimming team and
also plays tennis. He is a member of the Jericho Engineering Club
and hopes to one day work as a doctor.
Katie is extremely interested in science, as it has always posed
a challenge for her. This has led her to become a tutor for her
classmates in physics and math. She is also an FBLA Public Speaking
state champion, as well as an AP Scholar with honors.
“Many people in my family have been doctors, and I have always
been connected to medicine,” stated Katie Mazalkova. “My research
project relates directly to what will hopefully be a future in
cardiology.”
When outside of the classroom, Katie enjoys competing in
volleyball, winning the conference with her school’s team. She also
stays active by playing lacrosse. She hopes to continue her
research and work as a cardiologist in the future.
The team is grateful for the support they received from their
shared mentor Dr. Jodi Evans, Associate Professor of Biology at
Molloy College on Long Island, N.Y.
Regional Finalists
The remaining Regional Finalists each received a $1,000
scholarship. Regional Finalists in the individual category
were:
- Niyati Desai, Ward Melville Senior High
School, East Setauket, N.Y.
- Charles Gulian, Ossining High School,
Ossining, N.Y.
- Sarah Hamerling, Hunter College High
School, New York, N.Y.
- Yinge Zhao, Dalton School, New York,
N.Y.
Team Regional Finalists were:
- Christin Abraham, Pelham Memorial High
School, Pelham, NY; Jeffrey Hurd, Pelham Memorial High School,
Pelham, N.Y.
- Arthur Chen, Lawrence High School,
Cedarhurst, N.Y.; Lee Blackburn, Lawrence High School, Cedarhurst,
N.Y.; Justin Lish, Hebrew Acad-5 Towns & Rockaway, Cedarhurst,
N.Y.
- Robert Karp, Briarcliff High School,
Briarcliff, N.Y.; Karthik Rao, Briarcliff High School, Briarcliff,
N.Y.
- Hyunsun Kim, Trinity School, New York,
N.Y.; Hyun Jin Kim, Stuyvesant High School, New York, N.Y.
The Siemens Competition
This year marks the 15th Anniversary of the Siemens Competition,
the nation’s premier research competition for high school students.
A record 4,428 students registered for this year’s competition and
submitted a total of 1,784 projects for consideration – a 12%
increase over the number of projects submitted last year. 408
students were named semifinalists and 97 were named regional
finalists, representing 38 states. Entries are judged at the
regional level by esteemed scientists from six leading research
universities which host the regional competitions: California
Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
University of Notre Dame and The University of Texas at Austin.
For news and announcements about the Regional Competitions and
the National Finals, follow us on Twitter @SFoundation
(#SiemensComp) and like us on Facebook at SiemensFoundation.
About the Siemens Foundation
The Siemens Foundation supports educational initiatives in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the
United States. Its signature programs include the Siemens
Competition in Math, Science & Technology and Siemens Science
Day. The Foundation’s mission is based on the culture of
innovation, research and educational support that is the hallmark
of Siemens’ U.S. companies. For further information, visit
www.siemens-foundation.org or follow @sfoundation.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based
digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming
teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks,
multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core,
professional development, assessment tools, and the largest
professional learning community of its kind. Available in over half
of all U.S. schools and primary schools in England, community
colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education
partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to
captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with
customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement.
Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ:
DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in
the world. Explore the future of education at
www.discoveryeducation.com.
Photos of winners available on
request.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20141122005012/en/
Weber ShandwickEvan Phalon,
908-278-4818ephalon@webershandwick.comorSiemensErin Brown,
202-344-5532erin.brown@siemens.com
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