Assemblyman Thomas Alfano visited H. Frank Carey High School to present a Legislative Resolution to Dean Thorsen, a senior in the high shcool, who was recently designated as a semifinalist in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. Alfano authorized and passed the Resolution on Jan. 25.

"Dean is a very special young man who has inspired his school and community to reach for their goals as he did by achieving this most distinguished distinction and becoming eligible to compete for the grand prize," said Alfano, adding, "He has set a standard of excellence in the classroom that others will strive to achieve for years to come."

The Resolution honored Thorsen, 17, for being a man of superlative ability, talent and maturity and for achieving success that is rarely attained in youthful years. He wrote his prize-wining paper on the infestation rate of a parasite on a fish in the Canary Islands and did on-site research while scuba diving there under the guidance of his teacher and mentor, Dr. James Van Tassell.

There has not been a Science Talent Search competition at Carey since the mid-1980s. Dean was one of 300 semifinalists chosen out of 1,800 applicants. Finalists will compete in March for a $50,000 scholarship.