Meet Reva Butensky: Plainview JFK Intel Semifinalist

Plainview JFK senior Reva Butensky has been named a semifinalist in the prestigious 2014 Intel Science Talent Search.

Reva earned the high honor for the outstanding research in medicine and health that she conducted at Michigan State University during the summer of 2013.

“We are extremely proud of Reva’s accomplishment. It is a shining outcome for the exceptional efforts demonstrated by students and staff in our research program,” said Dr. Lorna Lewis, Plainview-Old Bethpage School superintendent.  “We are fortunate to have a community that fully supports great programs for our students. “

In 2013, Reva was selected to participate in the High School Honor Science Program at Michigan State University, where she pursued her research on the "Evaluation of Novel Polyacrylamide Gel for Studies on Biological Redox Reactions."

In addition to her comprehensive research, Reva is currently on JFK High School’s Executive Board of Student Government and Vice President of the High School, Varsity Captain of the Quiz Bowl Team, President of the National Honor Society, Managing Editor of the Hawkeye School Newspaper, Co-President of the Science Honor Society, Secretary of the Mathletes Team, Mechanical Engineer of the F.I.R.S.T Robotics & Engineering Club and a member of the Drastic Measures A Cappella Group and the Spanish Honor Society.

The Intel Science Talent Search is the nation’s most prestigious pre-college science competition. Previous Intel semifinalists and finalists have made extraordinary contributions to the sciences and hold many of the world’s most coveted honors in math and science, including the Nobel Prize and the National Medal of Science.

All semifinalists, including Reva, will receive a $1,000 award for their research.  Forty finalists from the current group of semifinalists will be invited to the 2013 Intel Finalist stage in Washington, D.C. in March 2014.

The students will have their research displayed to the public and judged in the final round. In addition, the students will meet with notable scientists and compete for the top award of $100,000.