A Paul D. Schreiber High School junior won honorable mention and another was a finalist last week in the MIT INSPIRE Research Competition for their social science projects.
Sarah Finkelstein was recognized for her research project, “Not So Dumb Jock: The Effects of High School Athletic Participation on Student Productivity and Achievement,” which studied how participation in interscholastic sports affects student academic performance.
Mari Mirasol was named a finalist for her project, “An Analysis of Student Risk Perception of Drug Use,” which looked at drug use in adolescents.
“Once again Schreiber students are being recognized for their work in the area of social sciences,” Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Mooney said.
Finkelstein found that athletics often improved student productivity and achievement.
Mirasol’s research showed that adolescents are generally more accepting of marijuana use than tobacco and other drugs that pose a greater risk to health.
Mirasol’s and Finkelstein’s projects were entered in the science, technology and society category, but the competition also judges projects in others categories like women’s and gender studies, music research and political science.
“To be chosen among an elite field of student researchers at such a prestigious competition is a testament to the students, their teacher and the department and it also speaks to the thought behind the topics Sarah and Mari chose,” Mooney said. “They have uncovered meaningful data that can be used to help young people during some challenging times in their lives.”
Mirasol and Finkelstein are enrolled in Schreiber’s research program.
Competition finalists receive advice on their projects from experts in different fields such as humanities, arts and social sciences.
There were 105 national finalists selected in the competition.
