In Jericho UFSD, original research in the sciences is 'the new cool' |
On Board Online • June 8, 2026
By Merri Rosenberg
Special Correspondent
Entering the main building of the Jericho Union Free School District, it instantly becomes clear that science matters here. A wall displays articles and images celebrating this year's winners of the prestigious national Regeneron Science Talent Search.
In an inner sanctum, a laboratory and classroom are dedicated to the high school Science Research Program, which has a long record of producing winners of various national science contests.
The Nassau County district isn't particularly large; it has 3,242 students, including about 1,200 in the high school. But it punches above its weight when it comes to preparing students to excel in science. In the latest 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search, of the 300 top scholars, 10 were from Jericho, besting other suburban powerhouses as well as some of the most selective high schools in New York City, including the Bronx High School of Science and Stuyvesant High School.
Alexis Vandergoot, science research coordinator and lead teacher for the Science Research Program, said winning competitions isn't the goal.
"We're not trying to create winners," she said. "We're trying to create scientists." She said producing medalists and scholarship winners in prestigious contests is a "happy by-product" of nurturing the joy of inquiry.
"When you absolutely love something, you make scientists and innovators," said Vandergoot, a New York State Master Teacher. "These kids are willing to give everything to their research. It's not about the recognition - it's chasing something you love. Science is the new cool."
Jericho students get a lot of support as they plan and pursue their science research projects. Teachers specializing in research, computer science, statistics and English all offer guidance. After students identify a specific research question, they often find a mentor in industry or a university to advise them as they design their experiments, collect data and use mathematical techniques to look for statistically significant results. For instance, senior Aryana Adur landed an unpaid internship with Harvard Medical School.
"We have so many people looking to support you," said Adur, a 2026 National STEM Champion. "The community here is amazing." She will attend Cornell in the fall.
"This is a family," Vandergoot said.
Even with all the support, pursuing original research with real-life implications is not for the faint-hearted.
"They have to be willing to take risks and not be afraid," said Loriann Ciasulli, a science research coach who co-teaches the juniors and seniors with Vandergoot. "It's important to keep them focused on their own personal journey so they can learn just as much about themselves."
Teacher Samantha Sforza coaches the tenth-grade students in science research. "The goal is to teach students transferable skills, like how to read and analyze data, and learning to work collaboratively," she said.
Parent and community support
Community support has been strong, said Dr. Janna Ostroff, Jericho's science and technology education curriculum associate. "We have an educated population of parents who know how important STEM is," she said.
A healthy local tax base helps support the district's science program. The median household income in Jericho is about $170,000, and Redfin reports a median home sale price of $1,450,000 in March 2026.
Also, the regular production of contest winners generates a five-figure stream of income for the district. The Regeneron Talent Search awards $4,000 for each student finalist, with half going to the student and half to the school district. Jericho uses the money for equipment and lab improvements.
The district recently rebuilt part of the Science Research Program lab in the high school. There's also a small lounge area where seniors can hang out to work on their projects when they're not in a class and meet with other students.
Another goal of the science program is to cultivate work habits that will serve students well in college and career, regardless of whether their career path is scientific.
"We want to give them a concept of deadlines," said Vandergoot. "These kids set their own expectations and goals, and achievable milestones. They have five goals to meet every two weeks."
About 140 students in grades 10-12 currently participate in the Science Research Program. One is senior Vedant Balani, who said his work on mathematical modeling for hurricane predictions benefited from "a collaborative culture with a good eco-system and strong school support."
A Regeneron finalist, he is also a two-time Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Finalist and 2026 ISEF Grand Award Winner in Earth and Environmental Science.
Balani will be one of 20 (yes, 20) valedictorians of Jericho High School in June. (All valedictorians have straight A+ grades in an unweighted grading system.) He will attend Carnegie Mellon in the fall.
A culture of STEM
Emphasis on science begins in elementary school. "There's a strong culture of STEM starting with the youngest learners," said Louis Cooper, a middle school technology teacher. "They get computational literacy and we have third-through-fifth grade robotics. It allows students to build, and they really engage." One option for middle schoolers is an after-school program about the science of sound, where students design and build their own ukeleles, which currently has a waiting list of 25.
For fifth through eighth graders, the academic focus is on life, physical and earth sciences in the classroom with complementary laboratories. A new project at the middle school is a drone program that taps into student interest and enthusiasm.
A legacy initiative encourages younger students to get interested in science research. Seniors discuss their experiences in videos, and a video gallery provides advice on topics like how to find a mentor for a science research project, how to develop a topic and how to cope with disappointing results. Some high school students visit the middle school to speak about their work with the younger students.
On a spring day that On Board visited Jericho, students were working independently in the lab classroom during the class session. Junior Tahirah Collins was editing a poster, while classmate Ara Woo had finished an experiment and was analyzing her data.
In a twist on YOLO (You Only Live Once), a wall hanging said, "YORO" which stands for You Only Regeneron Once.
Students were eager to share their experiences. Ryan Tae, a senior heading to Yale in the fall, said that participating in the Science Research Program was a meaningful part of his experience in Jericho. "A lot of my closest friends all did research. [The school] gave us lots of resources and experiences."
Tae, who studied optimizing the efficiency of silicon batteries, was a two-time Grand Award Winner in Regeneron's International Science and Engineering Fair.
"The Jericho Union Free School District sees science education not simply as a subject, but as a way of thinking rooted in curiosity, inquiry and discovery," said Superintendent Robert Kravitz. "We are committed to providing learning experiences that push students to think critically, explore with purpose, and meaningfully engage with the world around them."