Student brings science honors

Alexandra Pierovich's first day as a Floridian proved memorable, especially for a girl fascinated by unraveling the mysteries of science.

In 2005, Alexandra and her family had just moved from Colorado to Florida's east coast. She stepped onto Satellite Beach to capture a feel for her new environs.

The great expanse of the Atlantic Ocean lay before her, but what enthralled the then 10-year-old girl was the extraordinary sight of sea turtle hatchlings crawling across the sand toward the water.

"We have some amazing photos from that day," said Pierovich, 17, who now lives in Pasco County and is a senior at Land O' Lakes High.

Hooked by this sudden introduction to Florida marine life, she began volunteering with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society.

When she moved to Pasco, she brought along her love of science. She noticed that Land O' Lakes High didn't have a chapter of the Science National Honor Society, which she considered a serious oversight, especially since there were similar societies for disciplines such as English, French, Spanish and math.

Pierovich, with help from her mother, Erica, began the push for a chapter and last month, after much paperwork and effort, the Science National Honor Society awarded Land O' Lakes High a chapter, the first at a public school in Pasco.

One Pasco private school, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, also has a chapter. In Hillsborough County, 13 public and private schools have chapters.

The national society promotes science and service. The Land O' Lakes group has judged a science fair, worked on a science project with preschool children and plans to take a field trip to the Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa.

Several members participated a few weeks ago in a beach cleanup at Fred Howard Park in Pinellas County, along with two parent chaperons and chemistry teacher Jasalyn Gerazounis, the club sponsor.

"That was super fun," Pierovich said. "We worried when we got there because we didn't see any trash, but there was plenty."

Assistant Principal Steve Page said he doubts the national society chapter at Land O' Lakes would have come to fruition without the efforts of Pierovich and her mother.

"I wasn't even aware it existed until Alexandra started putting things in motion to get it done," Page said.

A fledgling version of the club came together last year with four members; Pierovich served as president. This year, 15 students are members.

Other officers are: Lizzy Kassens, vice president; Morgan Maloney, secretary; and Victor Spirakis, treasurer.

More students wanted to join, but honor societies have requirements that not everyone can hurdle. Students must have a 3.2 unweighted grade-point average; finish 40 hours of volunteer work and have at least a B in every science class.

The hard work doesn't end with admission.

"They have to be at 80 percent of the (club) activities," Gerazounis said. "They actually have to work for it. We're going to have an impact."

The society's objectives, as outlined on the national organization's website, are:

• Encourage and recognize scientific and intellectual thought.

• Advance students' knowledge of classical and modern science.

• Communicate with the scientific community.

• Help the civic community with its comprehension of science.

• Encourage students to participate in community service and, in turn, encourage a dedication to the pursuit of scientific knowledge that benefits humankind.

Those meshed with Pierovich's personal outlook.

"Ever since I was little, math and science were more my niche," said the teen, who plans to major in pre-med in college. "I like having a definite answer for something and finding out about the world around me."

Despite having moved across the state, she continues to volunteer with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society. Over the summer, she made several trips to Brevard County to help the turtle-nesting survey team.

That first day in Florida still captivates.