New Rochelle High School alumnae Jade Rosado, now a sophomore at the University of Connecticut, is on a scholarship in an Honors program for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students. Plus, she participates in a two-year research program that enables her to immerse herself in topics of specific interest.
That love was seeded by the Science Research Program at New Rochelle High School.
The program has become a signature source of pride at the school and for the City School District of New Rochelle. It gives students with an interest in science an opportunity to take on advanced studies while being mentored by distinguished scientists at colleges, universities or science-oriented companies as they perform a research project.
“My favorite part of the program was how individualized it was,” said Rosado. “You’re able to learn more about a topic that you are genuinely interested in.”
The program reached new heights in 2021, when three students qualified for the elite Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Only 1,800 students in the world qualify, and three were from New Rochelle High School: Isabelle Balachandran, Amanda Cao and Natalia McMorris. Students in the program also won a total of 67 awards, the biggest yearly total ever.
“We’re very proud that we’ve been able to continue to have our students excel at the highest international level amidst the pandemic and challenges of remote learning,” said New Rochelle High School’s Jeff Wuebber, the program supervisor.
Applications to join the program open every January. Any student with a love of science and a willingness to work hard and innovate is eligible. This year, there are 60 freshmen studying pre-science research (a new high) and 50 students in the Science Research Program.
“Our goal is to build on our phenomenal successes last year and increase our accessibility and visibility across the school and district,” said Wuebber. “One of the hallmarks of science research is the kids learning together and collaboratively in our classroom, and we haven’t been able to do that in the past year and a half (due to the pandemic and this school year’s flooding damage). This year, we really want to reach even more kids and encourage them to join our journey of scientific discovery.”
Students in the program don’t just make discoveries; they also become graduate-level scientists and learn crucial skills in public speaking, networking, giving presentations, and working with adults in a professional environment. Students who participate are well prepared for the challenges, joys, and opportunities of college education.
Alumnae like Rosado and Zahra Masih (now a senior at Cornell) confirm that the Science Research Program helped set them up for success in their collegiate studies.
“Coming into college with science literacy skills, scientific writing skills and research experience has not only made me feel confident in my classes, but also helped with a constant struggle of mine: public speaking,” said Rosado.
Masih said the Science Research Program was her first exposure to participating in larger-grade experiments, and it resulted in her falling in love with science.
“The research that I conducted over my high school summers, under the guidance of the program, prepared me not just for college lab research experiences, but also gave me a leg up in applying for college summer internships,” she said.
To learn more about the program, contact Wuebber at jwuebber@nredlearn.org.
Jade Rosado
Zahra Masih