Spotlight on Special Education

DHH student receives kudos at RIT’s National Science Fair 

Kayla Thornton recently had a very good hair day.

This March, Thornton, an 8th grade student in the BOCES Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, competed with students from around the country in Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) third-annual National Science Fair for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students. Thornton was selected to receive a second place award of $300 and a commemorative plaque for her work on a project about the effect shampoo-based chemicals such as formaldehyde and sodium laurel sulfate can have on hair and health.

The award-winning project was the culmination of months of study on hair structure and analysis of the data collected from seven volunteers who assisted Kayla in her research by washing their hair with various shampoos.

The genesis of the project was an eighth grade science research assignment—something her BOCES teachers Carol Donovan and Kathleen Strollo say Thornton went well beyond meeting the requirements of.

Although she admits that the project was time-consuming and that the analysis of data and preparation of materials in time for the RIT science fair competition created a bit of stress, Thornton says she enjoyed the process and, in particular, the time she spent at RIT.

“The award is really a tribute to Kayla’s hard-work, dedication and, I might even say, fortitude,” said Strollo. “When the going got tough, I just kept reminding Kayla to keep her eye on her goal.”