Budding science and math scholars honored at Fairfield University

Budding science and math scholars honored at Fairfield University

The need to develop more scientists and engineers in the United States is arguably now more important than ever to stay competitive in a global society. To celebrate and encourage young people with interests in these disciplines, Fairfield University's School of Engineering recently held its 17th annual "Excellence in Mathematics and Science Awards."

Thirty-three juniors from public, private and parochial high schools in Fairfield and New Haven Counties were recognized for their exceptional aptitude in science and mathematics. The students were nominated by their respective principals and teachers. The hope is that the students will be inspired to become the needed mechanical engineers, medical researchers and physicists of tomorrow.

"It is always so great to see these bright, creative and energetic high school students who will be engineers and scientists one day," said Jack W. Beal, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering. "They are learning all of the basic skills so that they can make their own contributions in the years to come.  They are the future."

While men in industry and higher education continue to outnumber women in science and technology study, nearly half of those honored at the Fairfield event were female. Dr. Beal presented the students with medals and certificates at a lunchtime ceremony held in the Dolan School of Business, where the young scholars mingled with faculty from the School of Engineering and the College of Arts & Sciences.

The schools/award recipients included Amity Regional High School (Eleanor Handler); Ansonia High School (Morgan Westine); Bassick High School (Diandre Clarke);  Bethel High School (Matthew San Giacomo); Brien McMahon (Jason Bruno); Bullard Havens High School (Keny Phung);  Bunnell High School (Kacie O'Neill); Common Ground High School (Charlie Dow); Convent of the Sacred Heart (Christina Huchro); Danbury High School (Justin Tung); Fairfield Ludlowe High School (Kara Westhoven); Fairfield Preparatory High School (Andrew Ostrosky); Fairfield Warde High School (Kyle Scheetz);  Greenwich High School (Douglas Saper); Henry Abbott Tech (Joshua Remlin); Hopkins School (Nathaniel Peters); Immaculate High School (Evan Porco); Jonathan Law High School (Timothy Maher); Joseph Foran High School (Hannah Reed);  Kolbe-Cathedral High School (Silvo Torres); Lauralton Hall (Kaitlyn DeLallo); Masuk High School (Alison Forger);  Newtown High School (Siyuan Sun); Notre Dame High School (Gwendolyn Vitale); Platt Tech High School (Dajsha Perrin); Seymour High School (Nicholas Kuzia); Shelton High School (Henry Feroce); St. Joseph High School (Marina Spinelli);  Staples High School (Sophie de Bruijn); Stratford High School (William Tait); Trinity Catholic High School (Megan Bates); Trumbull High School (Maneesh Koneru); Weston High School (Zachary Weinstein).

For more information about the School of Engineering, visit fairfield.edu/engineering.

Photos: 1) Thirty-three juniors from public, private and parochial high schools in Fairfield and New Haven Counties were recognized for their exceptional aptitude in science and mathematics. 2) (L-R) Front : Gwendolyn Vitale, of Bridgeport, Notre Dame High School; Back: Andrew Ostrosky, of Ridgefield, Fairfield Prep; Sophie de Bruijn, of Westport, Staples High School; Kara Westhoven, of Fairfield, Fairfield Ludlowe High School; Kyle Scheetz, of Fairfield, Fairfield Warde High School.

Posted On: 06-19-2013 11:06 AM

Volume: 45 Number: 305