Jonathan Gomes Selman Recognized as Distinguished Youth

BTI Associate Professor Zhangjun Fei, intern Jonathan Gomes Selman and postdoctoral scientist Noe Fernandez, at the 2015 BTI Student Symposium.

Ithaca High School Senior Jonathan Gomes Selman is recognized as the latest Tompkins County Distinguished Youth. A letter of nomination filed by Tompkins County Youth Services planner Kristin Bennett, on behalf of the Joint Youth Commission (for the Towns of Ithaca and Caroline and Villages of Cayuga Heights and Lansing) recognizes the many accomplishment of Jonathan, who has served actively for the past four years as the Commission’s only youth member. But Bennett’s letter states that “there is much more to Jonathan than his involvement with the JYC. In a nutshell, Jonathan is the ‘complete package.’ He is smart, kind, committed to making a difference, a leader, a musician, a scholar, an athlete, a volunteer, an innovator, and a friend.”

Among his many accomplishments cited: a prestigious research internship at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research at Cornell, three years teaching children as a volunteer at the Sciencenter; communicating about interesting developments from the world of math and science through his blog, Stumbling Into Science and Math; three years as co-president of the IHS Computer Science Club, two years on the IHS Code Red Robotics Team, and two years as a leader in the high school’s Link Crew mentoring program. He is a National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist, a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the high school’s concert band and pep band, and a member of the high school’s (undefeated) tennis team.

“Jonathan has set a high standard for his peer group,” Bennett’s letter states. “He serves as a positive role model to students at Ithaca High and in the larger community. He is very deserving of recognition by Tompkins County as a Distinguished Youth.”

The Distinguished Youth Award is cosponsored by Specialty Trophy and Awards, Bangs Ambulance Service, Purity Ice Cream, and Cayuga Radio Group.

For more information on Johnathan Gomes Selman and his work at BTI, read a profile of him here.