Garden City Public Schools

Garden City High School seniors Sarah Phinney and John Crouchley were named among the top 10 winners out of 1,372 entries and finalists in the Junior Scientists and Young Explorers Meta competition. JYEM is a global platform that invites high school and college students to submit original research across disciplines including the humanities, social sciences, engineering, life sciences and natural sciences.

The students were joined by GCHS junior Taylor Maguire, an International Science and Engineering Fair finalist who competed at the international fair in spring 2025 and was also recognized among the top finalists in this year’s JYEM.

For the 2025 competition, all three students submitted original research papers, essays and videos, earning recognition among 1,372 submissions worldwide. The JYEM editorial board conducted a rigorous triple-blind peer review to evaluate entries, ensuring the highest academic standards. ISEF honorees from across Long Island were among the top 10 winners, demonstrating the highly selective nature of the competition.

John’s research focused on air bearing technology, an innovative alternative to traditional ball and magnetic bearings. By using a cushion of pressurized air instead of physical contact, air bearings reduced friction, wear, vibration and energy use while increasing efficiency and lifespan. John is developing and testing a prototype to compare air bearings with conventional designs, with potential applications in wind turbines, flywheel energy storage and other high-performance systems.

Sarah’s project focused on strengthening crop resistance to the mosaic virus through protein modeling, using it to predict how mutations in DNA polymerase delta might affect viral replication. Her protein structure research was mentored by Garden City High School science teacher Dr. Meredith Foley.

“Last year, John and Sarah were 2025 NYSSEF round 2 finalists and Taylor was an ISEF finalist and first in her category at LISEF,” said Dr. Steven Gordon, science research teacher at GCHS. “Their selection as JYEM finalists confirms the consistent high quality of their work.”

The district is proud of John, Sarah and Taylor’s dedication and scientific achievements.