At the close of 2016, a group of Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School (RKYHS) STEM students presented mid-year progress reports of their capstone cutting-edge research projects at a special Evening of STEM symposium for supporters of the RKYHS STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program.
The outstanding presentations showcased the strength and depth of the RKYHS STEM program and the visionary educational leadership of RKYHS science department chair, Dr. Steven Stein, who continues to lead his students to new heights. The RKYHS STEM program continued to grow under Dr. Stein’s energetic leadership and has expanded in recent years to include a four-year full sequence of courses, starting with introductory coding courses (ninth grade) leading into scientific engineering (tenth grade), genetic engineering (eleventh grade), and bioengineering (twelfth grade). Additional classes are also offered in advanced robotics and computer science for students throughout high school.
During the Evening of STEM, student presenters Avi Bendory (Identification of Familial Mutations in Retinitis Pigmentosa Genes), Ariella Savitz (Device to Facilitate Anesthesia in Pediatric Patients), Doni Schanzer (Identification of Neurovirulence Determinants in the Zika Virus Genome), Sam Shersher (Strepalyzer Device for Detection of Strep Infection in Exhaled Air) and Becky Weisberg (Identifying CTLA-4 Polymorphisms in Autoimmune Disease) displayed their vast wealth of knowledge about their specific research topics, their problem-based-learning skill set as well as strong presentation skills.
“I’m really proud of these five students and their work, drive and presentations skills. But I am even more proud that if it were not these five, we would have a group of another five that could present, and another five after that. The depth of our program and the involvement of our students is not just exciting—it’s infectious,” stated Dr. Stein.
An important component of Dr. Stein’s training and mentorship for his STEM students is the honing of presentation skills and the students excelled in this area. “I was blown away by the ability of these high school students not only to focus on achieving acute scientific goals, but to discuss technologies and techniques which they truly understand,” said current Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy (JKHA) parent, Dr. Jonathan Waldstreicher, CEO of Gala Therapeutics and a principal at Apple Tree Partners, from West Orange.
According to RKYHS eleventh grade engineering student Becky Weisberg, the students recognize that “in order to achieve true success in the field of science and engineering, you need to be able to communicate the importance of your work. Preparing for the Evening of STEM was invaluable in learning this critical skill.” Recently, Becky was selected as a Waksman Student Scholar and spent more than 100 hours participating in an intensive training program at the Waksman Institute at Rutgers University during the summer of 2016, learning advanced techniques in molecular genetics. Becky is now “bringing it back” to RKYHS as a genetic engineering teaching assistant.
RKYHS twelfth grader Avi Bendory shared his take on why the RKYHS STEM program stands out, “This program provides an extraordinary opportunity for students. The STEM program allows me to conduct independent university-level work while still in high school and permits me to further develop my particular interests before entering college.” Avi is a genetic engineering teaching assistant and is focusing his independent research project on identifying genetic determinants in retinitis pigmentosa.
“The STEM program has given me an incredible interest in and love for science. I especially appreciate how Dr. Stein’s class teaches me how to think and solve real world problems,” stated Doni Schanzer, who is a twelfth grader in his third year of the STEM program at RKYHS, focusing his independent research on the Zika Virus.
The student scientists made a strong impression on the supporters attending the mid-year symposium. Alice and Jacob Klein, part of a group of early STEM supporters and members of the Board of Trustees at JKHA/RKYHS, were proud to see the impact the STEM program has on high school students: “Dr. Stein’s pedagogic methods and the enthusiastic and enlightening research of his students are beyond inspiring and incredible. I am so proud that RKYHS creates an environment where faculty members and students are encouraged to soar beyond every expectation.”
Each student is addressing relevant and current scientific challenges, and their research has the potential to make a real impact on the scientific community. They will continue their research throughout the rest of the school year, culminating with their completed capstone projects.
