For the ninth consecutive year, Manhasset High School students have received national attention on being named semifinalists in the Intel (formerly Westinghouse) Science Talent Search. The contest, celebrating its 60th year, is the nation's oldest science competition.

All Manhasset semifinalists are high school seniors. These students were five of only 300 students selected nationwide to move on in the highly prestigious competition. Their recognition brings the number of Manhasset's semifinalists to 24 students named over the past nine years. Students and their research projects are:

Kathleen Cook, Developing Methods for Generating the Reduced Folate Carrier Protein Recombinantly: A Novel Step Towards Improving Methotrexate Efficiency

Pamela Gusmanos, Effects of Tolerance on B7.1 Expression in the Intestine of MOG-fed Mice

Rajeev Mehta, Cytotoxic Effects of the HIV-Tat Protein of HGEC as a Factor in HIVAN Pathogenesis

Shodai Noguchi, Role of Microbubbles and Surfactant in Skin Friction Reduction

Sarrah Parry, Isolation of Amyloid B Peptides Using Thiophilic Chromatography

Kathleen and Sarah received recent recognition as semifinalists in the Sieman Science Competition's New England Regional.

A total of nine science research papers, two social science research papers, and six mathematics research papers were submitted by Manhasset students to the Intel competition.

In making the announcement at the high school, Principal Michael Keany noted that "each and every student completed research work of an extremely high caliber and should be commended." He congratulated the students and their research advisors Peter Guastella assisted by Richard Soviero (science), Frank McDermott (social science) and Vivian Walker (math).

Dr. Lawrence E. Bozzomo, superintendent of schools, commented, "Our students willingly participate in this challenging competition. It is a high distinction that for nine consecutive years, Manhasset students have achieved Intel's semifinalist status. Manhasset students shine in any challenge they take on. Their success is celebrated and supported by a dedicated faculty, mentors, encouraging parents, and the board of education, all of whom play an integral part in providing advanced research opportunities for our students."

The semifinalists were chosen from among 1,592 entrants and represent 166 high schools in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Forty-nine percent are female and 51 percent are male. The five states with the most semifinalists are New York (154), Virginia (17), Maryland (14), California (13), and Florida (12).

Sixty-six students were selected from Long Island high schools. The semifinalists and their schools will receive matching awards of $1,000.

From this group of 300 semifinalists, 40 finalists will be chosen on Jan. 31. They will attend the Science Talent Institute in Washington, DC from March 7-12, where they will participate in final judging and compete for college scholarships totaling $530,000. The winners will be selected based on rigorous interviews, and announced Monday, March 12.