Blind Brook Student Wins First Ever Acorda Scientific Excellence Award

Acorda Therapeutics, a biotechnology company based in Ardsley, NY, today announced the launch of the Acorda Scientific Excellence Award (ASEA). The award will go to an outstanding Westchester High School student doing independent research in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). A new ASEA award winner will be announced each week during the 2013-2014 school year; recipients will be interviewed on a new weekly radio program on WFAS-AM hosted by Gracie-award-winning broadcaster Lisa Wexler.  Applications are available now at www.acorda.com.

 Blind Brook High School’s Kyle O’Neil is the first student to win this new award.

 “This exciting new award program will spotlight some of the impressive scientific research being done by high school students throughout Westchester County.  By encouraging and supporting the next generation of scientists, Acorda Therapeutics can play a role in helping to create the future researchers who could go on to discover the next generation of medicines,” said Tierney Saccavino, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications at Acorda.  “In addition to giving these students much-deserved recognition now, we hope that the Acorda Scientific Excellence Award will encourage more young people to consider careers in science, engineering and related areas in the future.”

 All Westchester County high school students are eligible for the award, including students at public, parochial or private schools as well as students who are home-schooled. Applications will be evaluated by a committee comprised of scientists from Acorda Therapeutics, Westchester science educators, Lisa Wexler and a representative from Westchester County government. Applications are being accepted now through March 31, 2014 for the 2013-2014 school year and can be found at www.acorda.com. Winners will be announced on a weekly basis throughout the academic year. Each week the winning student will be invited to discuss his or her research project on a new radio interview program called “The Acorda Scientific Excellence Award.” 

Winning students and their schools will each receive a plaque recognizing and honoring their achievement. The program will air at 9:00 AM on Sunday mornings on radio station WFAS AM and will be hosted by Ms. Wexler.

“I first became familiar with these outstanding kids and their projects at the WESEF science fair last spring. So many of these students deserve recognition and a chance to explain to us the work they are doing. With this radio show, we in the non-science community will learn from the students and their teachers about cutting-edge research in science, math, technology and engineering.  The shows will be archived on the net so the students can share their research and enthusiasm with everyone. I’m incredibly excited to be part of this program,” said Ms. Wexler. 

 “We are very happy to have the opportunity to broadcast The Acorda Scientific Excellence Award Show. We are excited to extend our resources to help motivate, inform and serve our community with this partnership,” said WFAS’ Marty Sheehan. 

The Acorda Scientific Excellence Award is a reflection of the Company’s long-standing commitment to support both science education and the Westchester community. Acorda Therapeutics has supported a number of other programs to encourage students to pursue scientific studies, including the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) and the BioGenius Award, which recognizes students for outstanding original research in biotechnology. 

“In this global economy, the jobs not only of tomorrow, but of today, call for a solid grounding in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “High schools throughout Westchester have a strong focus on these STEM subjects, and many local students are conducting exciting and often groundbreaking original research. The Acorda Scientific Excellence Award is a great example of a local business joining in the effort to promote science education. This is what makes Westchester New York’s Intellectual Capital, and I am proud to partner with Acorda on this initiative.”

For information about eligibility requirements or to apply for the Acorda Scientific Excellence Award, please visit http://www.acorda.com/ScientificAward.aspx or email scienceaward@acorda.com.