Montgomery Blair High School Student Named Intel Science Talent Search Finalist

January 23, 2013

Samuel Zbarsky, a Montgomery Blair High School senior, has been named one of 40 finalists in the 2013 Intel Science Talent Search, one of the most rigorous and prestigious science competitions for high school students in the nation. Zbarsky is the only student in the state of Maryland to be named a finalist.

The Intel Science Talent Search is administered by the Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education.

The finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search are high school seniors from across the nation who submitted independent research projects in science, engineering, mathematics, or computer science. The finalists will compete for college scholarships totaling more than $600,000, including the top award of $100,000 from the Intel Foundation. Zbarsky was recognized for his research project, On Improved Bounds for Bounded Degree Spanning Trees for Points in Arbitrary Dimension.

Zbarsky is one of eight semifinalists in MCPS this year—five of them from Montgomery Blair High School, two from Poolesville High School and one from Richard Montgomery High School. Each of the semifinalists receives a $1,000 award for his or her outstanding research. Additionally, to recognize excellence in teaching and school support, the three schools will receive $1,000 for each semifinalist, which will be used to further excellence in science, math and engineering education.

MCPS has been a national leader in this competition for many years and routinely is one of the school districts with the most semifinalists.

“The Intel Science Fair is an example of how our students are applying what they know and can do at the highest levels and I am extremely proud of our district’s strong performance in this and other academic competitions,” said Superintendent of Schools Joshua P. Starr. “Congratulations to our Intel finalist, the semifinalists and everyone who participated, as well as the families and teachers that have supported their students and helped them prepare for this prestigious competition.”

The finalists will participate in the Intel Science Talent Institute in Washington, D.C. from March 7-13 where they will undergo a rigorous judging process, display their work to the public and meet with notable scientists. The top winners will be announced at an award ceremony on March 12.

Intel Science Talent Search

2013 Intel Science Talent Search Semifinalists

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