Daniel Handlin, a senior at High Technology High School in Lincroft, is a national finalist in the 2007 Intel Science Talent Search competition, the country’s oldest high school science competition.

Daniel will present his research on the application of satellite technology to national security at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, next month. He is among 40 high school seniors who were named as finalists in this year’s talent search.

Daniel lives in Middletown with his parents, David Handlin and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Dist. 13), a former vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County, and his sister, Rebecca.

The 2007 finalists represent 38 schools from 20 states; Daniel is among three students from New Jersey who achieved finalist status. The finalists will receive scholarships totaling $530,000, and the winner will be awarded a $100,000 scholarship.

Daniel said he is eager to present his findings to the panel of judges in March.

“My project demonstrated a way of using amateur telescopes to track satellites as accurately as the expensive radar systems used by professionals,” Handlin explained. “This technique could allow engineers to better understand satellite orbits and also help prevent collisions between spacecraft; this could increase their lifetimes.”

The technique also could ultimately decrease the cost to consumers of satellite services, such as television outlets and weather forecasters, he added.

Intel assumed sponsorship of the competition in 1998; the talent search began in 1942 and was formerly known as the Westinghouse Competition. Since 1998, annual awards and scholarships have increased from $207,000 to $1.25 million, according to Intel chair Craig Barrett.

This year’s competition achieved two milestones, Barrett said: There were 1,705 entrants, which was a record number for the competition. In addition, for the first time in the competition’s history, an equal number of young men and women were among the finalists, he said.

Daniel graduated from Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County in Marlboro in 2003. Both SSDS and his current high school deserve credit for fostering his interest in science and technology, Amy Handlin said.

“We are grateful to the wonderful teachers who encouraged Daniel’s intellectual curiosity and supported his scientific creativity,” she said. “We are very proud and excited for him.”

Along with his teachers, Daniel also deserves credit for his perseverance in pursuing scientific endeavors, added David Handlin.

“On his own, Daniel located and reached out to experts all over the world for guidance and feedback,” he said. “His tenacity and energy will be great assets in all areas of his life.”