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Science Competitions

Association for Psychological Science

The APS Convention brings together psychologists from subdisciplines spanning the full spectrum of the field to learn about cutting-edge research from world-renowned researchers, to improve their skills, to deepen their knowledge, and to forge life-long collaborations with colleagues.  

  • In their first year of involvement, twelve SHA teenagers were invited to present six original research projects alongside undergraduate and graduate students at this prestigious national gathering of research professionals.  
  • In 2020, eleven students (10 projects) were invited to present research posters at the 2020 convention in Chicago, DC. [The convention had moved to a virtual format.] 
  • In 2021, seven girls (7 projects) were invited to present research posters at the 2021 virtual national convention. An eighth student was asked to present a live "Flash Talk," an honor normally reserved for graduate students.  

Check out Currents News' story about the 2019 APS participants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbaOamfssPk, nd the LI Herald story about the 2020 APS invitees: https://www.liherald.com/rockvillecentre/stories/sacred-heart-academy-students-invited-to-science-convention,123298?

Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan

Canstruction
Canstruction LI, part of the national food drive/engineering Canstruction competition, is open to students in grades 9-12.  Students design and build a structure out of cans that they have collected as donations. There are usually 4-6 scholastic teams participating and 15-20 professional and college engineering teams.
SHA students have won numerous awards, including: "Most Cantastic," "Best Cantender," "People's Choice (student designs)," "Best Meal," and "Best Cancept."
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan


The Journal of Secondary Psychological Studies  
The Journal provides a forum for high school students to publish their empirical research on psychological topics. As part of the publication process, JSPS hopes to give students feedback that will help them improve upon both existing and future work. The editors also plan to focus on research that can be conducted in a high school environment without access to expensive equipment and to make the articles readily and quickly available online where they can help other students by modeling what teenagers working "in-house" can accomplish.  
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan


Junior Science & Humanities Symposium
Sponsored nationally by the United States Department of Defense and run regionally (NYC | LI) by the City University of New York, students in grades 9-12 present research projects of all levels. 

  • SHA students excelled in this competition in their first year of participation (2018-19).  Three students advanced to the regional finalist level.  
  • In 2019-20, four girls advanced to the regional finalist level.
  • The original research of three students qualified for regional finalist; one girl finished third in the Behavioral Science category, earning National Finalist alternate status.
 
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan


Long Island Psychology Fair
The Long Island High School Psychology Fair is a forum for the presentation and celebration of students' research in the field of psychology. The fair affords students an opportunity to present their work to an audience of their peers as well as to expert judges (professors and graduate students). Founded in 2008 by three high school teachers (Dr. Allyson Weseley, Dr. Stephen Sullivan and Ms. Michelle Sorise), the purpose of the fair is to promote the empirical study of psychology and the sharing of such work between students. 
In Sacred Heart Academy's first foray into this competition, a student was invited to present at the fair and named a regional finalist.  
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan


Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (Senior Division)
The Long Island Science and Engineering Fair is the regional fair for qualification for state and national ISEF fairs (Intel International Science and Engineering Fair).  Students in grades 11-12 present research projects, usually done over the summer/school year at outside scientific research institutions.

  • In 2017 a SHA student earned  Honorable Mention (4th Place) in the Medicine category.  
  • In 2019 a SHA student earned Third Place in Biomedical Sciences and a special award for  "Outstanding Accomplishment" from International Invitro-Biology Society.  
  • In 2020 a SHA student earned Honorable Mention (4th Place) in Biomedical Sciences.
  • In 2020 a SHA student earned  Honorable Mention (4th Place) in Animal Sciences.  

Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan


Long Island Science Congress
Sponsored by the Science Teachers Association of New York State (NYS), students in grades 9-12 present research projects of all levels.  SHA students have excelled in this competition.
In 2016, several students received Achievement, Meritorious and Honorable Mention Awards. 
In 2017, several students received Honorable Mention Awards and two students received High Honors.
In 2019, several students received Achievement and Honorable Mention Awards; one student earned High Honors. 
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan
 
 

Medical Marvels
Presented by Northwell Health, students in grades 9-10 may participate in Medical Marvels.  Student teams are presented with a real-life issue in public health (mental health, providing care to low-income neighborhoods, water contamination, student vaping) and must design a public health campaign in order to create solutions to address these problems.
SHA earned second place at this competition in 2014. 
SHA earned "Best Presentation" at this competition in 2019 (A Multi-faceted school-based approach to curb student vaping). 
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan


Molloy College Science Fair
Sponsored by the Molloy College Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Studies Department, students in grades 9-10 present research projects, usually conducted in the school lab.

  • A SHA sophomore earned Honorable Mention at this competition in 2018. 
  • Three SHA sophomores earned First Place at this competition in 2019.
 
*The competition was suspended in 2020 & 2021 due to Covid-19 concerns.


Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan

Nassau Community College Science and Arts Fair
Students in grades 9-12 may compete in this science fair presented by the Nassau Community College Honors Program. Each year the fair has a theme, such as "What Matters?" or "Identity." Students present scientific research projects that fit with the theme of the fair.  

  • Several SHA students have placed in this competition, including 3rd place in 12th grade, 2nd place in 11th grade, 3rd place in 9th grade in 2016 and 2nd place 10th grade in 2017, 3rd Place in 10th grade in 2020. 
  • In 2021, Sacred Heart Academy seniors swept the 12th-grade awards, earning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place medals.


Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan


Regeneron Science Talent Search 
The Regeneron STS is the oldest and most prestigious student science competition in the nation - and the world. Finalists are often referred to as "Junior Nobel Laureates." Students in grade 12 submit original research papers in critically important scientific fields.  Most research is conducted over the summer/during the school year at outside university or medical labs. Three hundred "Scholars" are selected based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking, and promise as scientists. Scholars and their respective schools receive $2,000 each. From that select pool, 40 "Finalists" are then invited to Washington, D.C. in March to undergo final judging, display their work to the public, meet with notable scientists, and compete for $1.8 million in awards. 
Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan

Science Olympiad
Open to students in grades 9-12, the Science Olympiad features a regional (Nassau West) and national competition.  Students compete in pairs against teams from other schools in events that test their knowledge and design skills in science, technology, engineering and math. 
Sacred Heart Academy students excelled at the 2017 competitions, placing sixth in Robot Arm, eighth in Anatomy and Physiology and Helicopters, and ninth in Hydrogeology and Herpetology.
In 2019, SHA scored at least one team in the top ten in Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry Lab, Disease Detectives, & Write It / Do it. 
Faculty Moderators: Ms. Nicole DeVito


SPARK! Challenge
SPARK! Challenge, sponsored by Northwell Health, is open to students in grades 11-12.  Students shadow medical professionals for one day (Oct - Dec), then choose a career, create a poster advertisement and give a two-minute presentation on their chosen career at the Spark! Challenge Mock Career Fair in April.

  • In 2017, SHA won the 1st place presentation award ($3,000) for their Montefiore Cancer Center Oncology Nursing Presentation.
  • In 2018, SHA won the 1st place presentation award ($3,000) for their Schneider's Children's Hospital Music Therapy Presentation.  
  • In 2021, SHA won the 3rd place presentation award ($1,000) for their Geriatric Behavioralist Presentation.    


Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan


Whitman Journal of Psychology

The Whitman Journal of Psychology is a non-profit, student-run publication. It collects submissions from high school students around the country and publishes the most intriguing and well-written manuscripts that it receives. Every submission is considered. Students are encouraged to submit their work through September 30 of their freshman year of university. 
 
  • Two SHA seniors had their original research articles accepted for publication in the Fall 2020 issue of the Journal.
  • One senior had her original research accepted for publication in the Fall 2021 issue.

See LI Herald coverage: 


Faculty Moderator: Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan