News & Information

 

 

Harrison High School senior Reese Potash was named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar and is among 300 students nationally and 17 in Westchester recognized for original science research. Reese was selected from almost 2,500 applications received across 33 states, Washington D.C., Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Switzerland. Scholars are selected based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists.

 

Reese conducted her research, Lack of School Engagement as a Mediator between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Juvenile Offending as part of Harrison High School’s Science Research Program. In addition to science research at HHS,  Reese is Captain of the Debate Team, Founder/President of the Philosophy Club, Secretary of the Gender in Arts and Media Study Group, and a Peer Leader; she also volunteers with several community organizations including Riley’s Way Foundation and the Birthday Giving Program.  Reese plans to major in political science on the pre-law track and minor in psychology at college and is excited to continue exploring the interdisciplinary relationship between law/criminal justice and psychology. 

 

To be considered for the Regeneron competition, students conduct an original research project, collect and analyze comprehensive data and submit their work for evaluation by a panel of judges. Students also complete an application explaining the reasoning behind their study, academic background and interest in science. 

 

I have been part of the Science Research program since my sophomore year, so this is my third year in the class.

Why did you choose your research topic?

I chose my research topic because I've always been interested in the intersection between criminal justice and psychology. As a prospective lawyer, I wanted to research a topic that could provide a solid foundation for my future academic and professional endeavors. While exploring potential topics, I discovered various scientific journals dedicated to sharing the risks of juvenile offending and was intrigued to learn more. Through my research, I was able to narrow down a topic that allowed me to study how juvenile offending manifests (specifically the role of childhood trauma in shaping adolescence), and potential solutions (such as increasing school engagement) to decrease juvenile delinquency rates.

 

During my sophomore year, I was connected to Bryanna Fox, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of Florida. During a Zoom meeting with Professor Fox, I was introduced to the Pathways to Desistance study, a longitudinal analysis of juvenile offenders. This meeting was pivotal in my science research journey, as I ultimately ended up using the data from this study to conduct my research. I also met with Professor Christopher Stout at the University of California San Diego to discuss the prospect of using factor analysis to analyze my statistical results. While I only met with Professor Fox and Professor Stout two times each, I have worked closely with Ms. Blunt over these past three years.

 

The most rewarding part of the research experience is seeing how my study has the potential to contribute to a deeper understanding of systemic societal issues, such as juvenile crime. Knowing that my research may influence conversations about reorienting education systems to better combat juvenile delinquency has been incredibly fulfilling.

 

My most compelling discovery is the significant role that school engagement plays in mediating the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and juvenile offending. The results that my study has yielded have been truly eye-opening, as they've led me to recognize the pivotal role school environments can play in influencing juvenile delinquency. This finding emphasizes the importance of reforming educational programs to serve as support systems, prepared to combat the risk of juvenile offending.

 

In college, I plan to major in political science on the pre-law track and minor in psychology. I'm excited to continue to explore the interdisciplinary relationship between law/criminal justice and psychology.