Danbury student receives national recognition for science achievemen

Danbury High School freshman Khushi Parikh has been named one of the top 300 students in a national science competition that drew more than 2,500 entrants this year.

Khushi is one of the Top 300 MASTERS in the 2018 Broadcom MASTERS, a program of Society for Science & the Public. While an eighth-grade student last year at Westside Middle School Academy, Khushi worked on her project, “Image Recognition to Diagnose Lyme Disease,” in which she designed a software application that can detect Lyme disease from a photo image with 90 percent accuracy. Her work was under the direction of WSMSA STEM theme coach Jon Neuhausel and principal Dr. Frank LaBanca -- and earned nine awards at the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair, including the first place Lockheed Martin Physical Sciences Award.

“Khushi’s project exemplifies the high-quality authentic work we value at Westside Middle School Academy,” said LaBanca. “She was passionate about a project that has important real-world applications. She is the model and example for what we hope students achieve.”

The next step in the Broadcom MASTERS takes place on September 18 when 30 finalists will be selected from the Top 300 MASTERS.  Finalists and one parent or guardian will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the Broadcom MASTERS Finals Week competition from October 19 to 24. Finalists will present their research and compete in hands-on challenges for top prizes, including funds to attend a STEM summer camp and the Samueli Prize of $25,000.

“We are very proud of Khushi and her accomplishment,” said Superintendent Dr. Sal Pascarella. “The STEM program is one that encourages students to explore their best and brightest ideas and to overcome obstacles through research and experiment, similar to how true scientists work. We have seen many students push through and realize their potentials in our schools, and it is rewarding when students like Khushi are recognized at this level.”