William Floyd High School senior Alice Chen has been recognized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) for her academic achievements in high school chemistry. Dawna Cintron, Science Department chairperson at William Floyd School District, stated, "This recognition is a testament to Alice's outstanding achievements and contributions to the field of chemistry." She added that the award highlights Chen's dedication and potential to contribute significantly to the scientific community.
Alice Chen, who is also the Class of 2025 valedictorian, plans to attend Harvard University in the fall to study chemical and physical biology with a minor in government. During her time at William Floyd High School, she was active in various extracurricular activities. Notably, she was one of three nationwide team winners of the Y-USA National Changemakers competition for a project addressing nitrogen pollution from stormwater runoff. Additionally, she participated in the Long Island Water Quality Challenge team that secured a grant for their "Gorgeous Gardens" project.
Chen's involvement extended beyond science projects; she served as a public defender and attorney general in Youth and Government. She also participated as an attorney in the YMCA National Judicial Competition and was selected as a delegate for the YMCA Conference on National Affairs. Her roles included being part of the Floyd Robotics team and serving as president of the Tutoring Club.
The ACS is a non-profit organization established in 1876 with a mission to advance scientific knowledge and empower communities through chemistry. Each year, it recognizes outstanding high school chemistry students from Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties.