Schools
RVC's Kelsey McKenna Named Semi-Finalist in Siemen’s Science Competition
The South Side senior was recognized for researching the flu virus.
A future in scientific research may be in store for one senior. Kelsey McKenna was named a semi-finalist in the annual Siemen's Science Competition, a national contest that recognizes outstanding math, science and technology projects done by high school students.
"I was so excited when I found out I was a semi-finalist," McKenna said. "I love my research no matter what, but it was really nice to be recognized."
After a lecture at Stony Brook University over the summer sparked the idea, McKenna began working on three-dimensional molecular imprinting and detection of the influenza A virus through potentiometric biosensors, which offers quick, cost-efficient alternatives to traditional detection tests. "I worked with flu because it relatively easy to obtain and can be used to model the system for basically any other virus," McKenna said.
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McKenna credits the research program at South Side High school and her teacher, Herb Weiss, with facilitating her participation in the competition. She explained that Weiss helped place her in the lab where she worked for the past two years and also drove her paper to the Siemen's office for submission on the due date.
"We're very proud of our students who work so hard to produce competitive projects," said Dr. Carol Burris, principal of South Side High School. "Congratulations to Kelsey and thanks to the community and the Board of Education for supporting our science program."
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McKenna also said that having a leadership role in Rockville Centre's Youth Council, where she serves as the student social action chair, prepared her for the science competition because both require taking initiative and maneuvering around obstacles.
"I would not expect anything less from Kelsey," said Michael Caffrey of the RVC Youth Council about her accomplishment. "Kelsey is very driven and organized and seems to always want to take a project to the next level."
Though McKenna does not yet know where she will attend college next fall, she does plan to continue her science studies. "I want to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in medical physics so that I can directly work with patients and continue research," she said.
