After finding an old water bottle in her family’s car, Wendi wondered why it smelled and whether it was safe. First, she convinced the University of Miami’s chemistry department to let her conduct summer research using their ultraviolet spectrometer, then she continued the work at her school. She found that heating plastic bottles, specifically baby bottles, can leach eight times the allowed levels of the chemical bisphenol A. Wendi compiled a 422-page summary and launched an effort to enact bans. She appeared before the Broward County Commission and the Broward League of Cities, and this summer, she will be interning for New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg in Washington, D.C. A fencer, Wendi was also the president of Pine Crest’s student government.
For the past 52 years, The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald newspapers have recognized South Florida's top high school seniors. This year, 15 winners from Miami-Dade and 15 from Broward were selected in categories ranging from science to athletics to drama.
Each winner received $2,000, a Silver Knight statuette, a medallion and a round-trip ticket from American Airlines.
Wendi Oppenheim is also a co-founder of the Opp Guide, an online service guide written by teens for teens whose mission is to empower, educate, and encourage youth to serve the community throughout adulthood by finding a compatible service activity that they enjoy.
For the past 52 years, The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald newspapers have recognized South Florida's top high school seniors. This year, 15 winners from Miami-Dade and 15 from Broward were selected in categories ranging from science to athletics to drama.
Each winner received $2,000, a Silver Knight statuette, a medallion and a round-trip ticket from American Airlines.
Wendi Oppenheim is also a co-founder of the Opp Guide, an online service guide written by teens for teens whose mission is to empower, educate, and encourage youth to serve the community throughout adulthood by finding a compatible service activity that they enjoy.