SHS Senior Wins Chemistry Photography Contest and Eagle Scouts Honored

SHS Senior Daniel Harris has won a Chemistry in Pictures contest from Chem13 Magazine for his photo of combustion. A student of chemistry teacher Elise Hilf Levine and art teacher Dina Hofstetter Daniel took his prize-winning photo of the igniting of butane gas with a high-speed camera.

Here's the background on the story from Daniel: "I have always loved science and a few years ago I began to start photography as a hobby. When my chemistry teacher Ms. Levine approached me and asked if I wanted to enter photos for a contest for Chem 13 Magazine, I was very excited to shoot some interesting scientific subjects. We agreed that I should try to get some pictures of water, fire and smoke, and I eventually had the idea to use a macro lens to capture a picture of a lighter just before the spark ignites the gas. It took me a couple of tries before I finally got the result that I was looking for. I think the reason this picture is so surreal is because it is something we never get to see because it usually happens in the blink of an eye. With the help of Ms. Levine and Ms. Hoffstetter, my photography teacher, I submitted several photographs to Chem 13 that focused on the combination of chemistry and photography."

Congratulations to Daniel and his teachers.

Eagle Scouts Honored

The Boy Scouts of America Troop 2 located at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Scarsdale conferred the rank of Eagle Scout to three of its members February 2nd at a special Eagle Court of Honor ceremony held in the church basement.

The special event also coincided with Scout Sunday, a national day of honor for the organization, which is meant to recognize the contributions of young people and adults to scouting.

The newly conferred Eagle scouts, Keith and Kevin Hernandez of Eastchester along with Michael Siciliano, a Scarsdale native, received their Eagle badges and neckerchiefs, as is customary when a scout receives the highest of merit badges.

Eagle scouts must fulfill specific requirements before gaining the prestigious badge. That includes earning a total of 21 merit badges, completing an approved service project, taking on a number of leadership roles within their troop along with other requirements.

Both Hernandez brothers, freshmen at Westchester Community College, completed an outdoor cleanup project at the Greenburgh Nature Center in Scarsdale, and Siciliano, a student at the University of New Haven, participated in a similar project at the Weinberg Nature Center in Scarsdale.

(Pictured Above) Newly conferred Eagle scouts, from left: Keith Hernandez, Michael Siciliano and Kevin Hernandez.