(Bayonne—January 12, 2007) Recently High Tech students traveled to Bayonne High School for the beginning of the 2007 New Jersey Science League season, and once more, High Tech won in every category, announced Principal Karol Brancato.

Having just come off its most successful season ever, High Tech placed in the top ten at the State and National levels in multiple categories.  High Tech’s students and their seven teams competed with intense drive and determination, and the fruits of their labors speak for themselves:

The Earth Science Team, all freshmen entirely comprised of Jersey City residents Riana Balahadia, Sameer Chauhan, Daniel Haddad and Hoa Pham, won its category, their score proving comparable to prior High Tech teams that attended the Nationals.

The Physics I Team, composed of Harrison’s Marvin Ma, Steven Santos of Jersey City (who, as an individual, led the county), North Bergen’s Saurabh Patel and Siddharth Tripathi of Kearny, won in its category, the team’s average score twice the state average!    

The AP Physics Team, Daniel Barringer and Madaser Saleem, both of Jersey City, and Kearny’s Ethan Elenberg and Johnathon Bourdett, secured a win, even with mostly first-year students on the team.

Although the League canceled third-year Physics due to the examiner’s retirement, last year’s Physics Team migrated to the AP Chemistry exam, whereby Harrison residents Marco Machado and Kanglei Wang and North Bergen’s Akash Shah and Kearny’s Brendan McKeon, who came close to a perfect score, earned a commanding victory.  

The Chemistry I Team of Weehawken’s Cassie Tarakajian, Smeet Vikani of North Bergen, and Johnny Voong, a freshman who made a strong debut in an upper level division, and Gabrielle Gulo, both of Jersey City, rallied together to achieve a remarkable victory. 

A traditional powerhouse, the Biology Team of Lai-San Ho of Jersey City, Saravagna Patel of North Bergen, Bayonne’s Ali Hassan and Sara Kim of Secaucus took part in a great opening day win, too.

Last but not least, the AP Biology Team, comprised of Wilson Matos and Diego Scerbo of Jersey City and North Bergen residents Natalie Rivera and Jenieve Guevara, won its examination with authority.

The Science League started in 1962 by Dr. Mal Sturchio, a chemistry professor at Fairleigh Dickinson, and began as a competition for chemistry students, however it grew to its present size by offering competitive exams in physics, biology and earth science as well.  Any student who completes three of the four exams receives a certificate, and the top ten percent of students receiving certificates also receive plaques.  Last year the Science League awarded nearly 240 student plaques at the end of the school year.  In addition to individual competition, teams from the various schools compete in each subject area.  The examinations occur once a month for four months from January to April.