AT&T, Young Science Achievers Program, Inc. Announce Winners Of STEM Competition

BEDMINSTER, N.J., June 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Student teams from several high schools in the metro New York/New Jersey region won a competition that challenged them to create science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research proposals. The students and their winning proposals were highlighted during a special ceremony at AT&T's Global Network Operations Center.

The event included executives from AT&T and representatives of the Young Science Achievers Program, Inc., which received a $216,625 contribution from AT&T to support the metro New York/New Jersey region competition and other STEM and high school success programs in Chicago and Dallas.  The contribution is part of AT&T Aspire, AT&T's signature education initiative focused on high school success and career readiness.

Categories for this year's competition included invention, physics, biology, chemistry, engineering and mathematics. Modeled after professional research and education proposals, the projects had to include a hypothesis, methodology, and an operating budget.  The projects were reviewed by a panel of reviewers comprised of community leaders and professionals from industry, including AT&T Labs scientists, and academia.

During the course of the school year, students also were mentored by members of the community, academia and industry, including AT&T employees, who provided their professional and academic histories as a way to motivate students to stay in school, graduate and go to college.

"We were so impressed with this year's submissions which demonstrated the students' higher levels of critical thinking, creativity and academic excellence," said Jorge Valdez, Ph.D., President and CEO Young Science Achievers, Inc. "We believe this competition blends formal and informal educational strategies with the support of private sector professionals in STEM and has the ability to be an education model that can change the way under-served students look at education and their role as contributing global citizens."

"The Young Science Achievers Program is the perfect forum to introduce the possibilities of a STEM education to today's students who will be entering the workforce in 2020," said J. Michael Schweder, Mid-Atlantic President, AT&T. "The hope is by giving students exposure to STEM skills, they will be encouraged to follow a similar path so that AT&T and other companies can continue innovating."

Young Science Achievers Program is dedicated to serving under-represented youth in urban communities and to address ways to provide role models, access to economic and educational opportunities and the possibility of future career options to under-served youth.

The first-place winners, with short descriptions of their projects, are:

• Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ:  Modulation of Neurotransmitters Using Nonivamide to Enhance Treatment of Depression
• Academy for Medical Science Technology, Hackensack, NJ:  The "Smart" Cancer Drug
• Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ:  Control of Antibiotic Resistance in E aerogenes via Inhibition of Conjugative Plasmid Dissemination
• Bayonne HS, Bayonne, NJ: Creating Nano-Sized Particles of BCS 2 Class Cholesterol Drug
• Lincoln High School,  Yonkers, NY:  Science Force
• Bergen County Academies, Paramus, NJ:  The Mathematical Relationship between Social Media and Companies' Stock Price
• Lincoln High School, Yonkers, NY:  Final Paper Impact of Degree Measurement of the Elbow on a Jump Shot
• Bridgewater-Raritan High School, Bridgewater, NJ:  Nightmare in a Different Dimension
• Bridgewater-Raritan/Somerville HS, Bridgewater, NJ: Xaboia - Turning Left Over Soap Into New Liquid Soap

Click here for the complete list of projects and descriptions.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. In 2013, more than $130 million was contributed or directed through corporate-, employee-, social investment- and AT&T Foundation-giving programs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T's signature education initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring. Follow on Twitter @Connecttogood.

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