Garden City High School’s team of young scientists won the top prize in this year’s OSI Pharmaceuticals’ Protein Modeling Challenge held last month at Stony Brook University. Twenty-seven teams representing 20 island-wide schools were evaluated by a panel of three judges for this year’s event which focused on the structure and function of insulin. The competition was divided into three sections: a pre-built protein model (scored on the “accuracy and scale of the alpha-helix and beta-sheet secondary structures, other elaborations and enhancements on the protein backbone such as side chains, DNA or associated molecules”), an on-site protein model build (based on “accuracy of folding Mini-Toober model and positioning of specific amino acid side chains and/or accessory molecules”), and a written exam (judged on “accuracy”).

Pictured here with their entry, award certificate and gold medal are members of the winning Protein Modeling Challenge team (left to right): advisor/science teacher Michael Stano, Elizabeth Glover, Gloria DiMino, Amanda Bressingham, and Zachary Zeno.

Congratulations to these outstanding young scientists and their teacher on this prestigious win!