The Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among high school students. ACT-SO is an "Olympics of the Mind" spanning 27 categories across the humanities, sciences, and visual and performing arts. ACT-SO began in Chicago in 1977 and now encompasses some 140 local chapters — including the flagship New York City ACT-SO. Every summer, coincident with the NAACP Annual Convention, the local chapters send their top participants to compete at the National ACT-SO for the chance to win cash, prizes, medals, and honor. Midwood High School is proud of all New York City’s participants, but special recognition goes to Hillary Syeda, Sandra Lin, and Christopher Chasteau.
Gold Medal
- Hillary Syeda received a Gold Medal in Biology and Microbiology for her project "Characterization of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) Production, Secretion, and Target Cells for LIF within the Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) Niche." Hillary worked under the supervision of Dr. Christopher Lange in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
Silver Medal
- Sandra Lin received a Silver Medal in Chemistry and Biochemistry for her project "Isolation of isomeric catechols 4-chloro-2-ethoxy-5-(triethlysilyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-ol and 5-chloro-2-ethoxy-4-(triethlysilyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-ol." Sandra worked under the supervision of Dr. Wayne F.K. Schnatter at Long Island University in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
- Christopher Chasteau received a Silver Medal an Instrumental Classical piece he played on the steel pan. Christopher is the brother of Midwood Science alumnus Colleen Chasteau and attends Benjamin Bannaker Academy.
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Colleen Chasteau, Sandra Lin, Hillary Syeda