Two Roslyn High School students, Jessie Dong and Aasiya Zaidi, will advance to the 61st National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)—to be held April 12-15 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The National JSHS brings together 245 high school students who qualify by submitting and presenting original scientific research papers in regional symposiums held at universities nationwide.

Each year, approximately 150 students across Long Island are invited to present the results of their original research investigations in STEM fields, where they compete in eight categories, giving 10-12 minute presentations and taking questions from a panel of three judges.

Five Roslyn students: Dong, Zaidi, Brian Song, Sayem Kamal and Belinda Lin, competed in the 2023 regional semi-finals—held Feb. 12 at York College, and three of the five students – Jessie Dong (Chemistry), Brian Song (Computer Science) and Aasiya Zaidi (Biomedical Sciences) – were selected to present in the finals on Feb. 25. Dong and Zaldi placed 3rd and 4th to earn the invitation to the national level.

“It was a delight to watch our students at the JSHS! They demonstrated impressive knowledge and fabulous presentation skills,” Allyson Weseley, Roslyn School District’s coordinator of secondary research, said. “We wish the girls the best of luck at the National Competition in Virginia Beach!”