Plainview Senior is an Intel Finalist

A Plainview student's masterful research project has earned him a place as a finalist in the prestigious nation-wide Intel Student Talent Search.

's project, "Evidence for Link between Native Reading Language and Internal/External Search Processes," has wowed the competition's judges in the annual nationwide competition.

The senior conducted his social science research under the direction of Raymond Tesar, AP psychology teacher at the high school.  

Goldman's project examines whether people view images in the same direction in which they learned to read. Goldman's hypothesis was that English readers were more apt to recall images on the left side of a display, while Hebrew readers (who read right to left) were more likely to recall images on the right. The exhaustive research contradicted his hypothesis and has potential business and educational implications.

Goldman was one of from Plainview JFK whose work was judged by the Intel panel. 

The school district is ecstatic: 

“An incredible feeling of joy and awe came over me when I heard that Jon was named an Intel STS finalist," said MaryLou O’Donnell, research teacher coordinator: "This is going to be a life-changing experience for him, one that he will never forget."

“Jonathan has invested an amazing amount of time and energy into his projec," said Joyce Thornton Barry, chairperson of science, research and technology: "His passion is evident whenever he explains his findings. This experience of being recognized as a finalist in the Intel STS is the educational equivalent to making it to the Super Bowl."

The district says that Goldman has taken challenging programs throughout his high school career. He is enrolled in five AP courses, president of the science Honor Society and an active member of the POB DECA Club. Outside of school, he works at a community supported agricultural garden at the Old Bethpage Restoration Village.

As a finalist, Goldman will participate in the Intel finals week in March in Washington, D.C., where the 10 top award winners are selected, including the top winner who gets a $100,000 award. The 40 finalists display and present their research to the public at the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.