By Lisa Gentes

Gregory Warot didn't spend his summer weekdays at the beach catching some sun, or out on the court playing ball, or hanging out with friends. Instead, he spent every day for eight weeks, nine-to-five, in the lab at the Forsyth Institute &emdash; conducting a gum disease study that earned him national recognition.

The 17-year-old Boston Latin Academy senior from Savin Hill devoted his vacation to interning for the Forsyth Institute's Educational Outreach Program. And last week, he was honored for his months of hard work and study.

Warot, along with 10 other student interns from high schools across the Bay State, presented his findings to mentors, schoolteachers, Forsyth scientists, families and friends. All of the students received official certificates honoring their achievements.

The Dorchester teen, who worked with his volunteer mentor, Dr. Toshihisa Kawai, DDS, Ph.D., studied the effects of green tea catechin (extract) on oral bacteria. Warot's mentor is working on publishing his findings in a scientific journal.

His summer of research took place on the Fenway in the science laboratories at the Forsyth Institute, an independent, nonprofit research facility that focuses on oral and biomedical science. It was founded in 1910 to provide dental care to Boston-area school children, and continues its mission with an educational outreach program.

Martin Taubman, Ph.D., chairman of the Forsyth department of immunology, created the program in 1993 to encourage high school students' interest in science. It is partially funded by Colgate Palmolive Company and the Forsyth.

Dr. Taubman added that the program reaches out to the Boston Public Schools to enhance their science programs. "We want people to know what we're doing here and we want to help the high school students."

Warot, one of those city students, has taken full advantage of the program. Despite carrying a full-plate of extracurricular activities, including participating in a Polish dance club, Polish scouting and events at his local Polish parish, St. Mary's in South Boston, Warot had managed to make science part of his life.

The teen has had a love of science since childhood and was inspired by his father, an engineer. He loved construction and building things. His schoolteachers pushed his passion and encouraged him to compete in local science fair competitions. This year, he won first-place awards in both the city and state science fairs and in May, he won third prize in his category at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Cleveland, Ohio.

He became involved with the Forsyth at the recommendation of a Boston Latin Academy science teacher and department head, Mr. Sullivan, who told him to apply.

"The opportunity came to come to this program, so I jumped on it," Warot said.

He noted that his work at the Forsyth is a benefit to his high school education.

"It's helped me with my science classes," he said, explaining that analyzing data, writing lab reports and learning the scientific method have been useful at school.

The senior, who is taking advance placement statistics, calculus, physics, history, English and last year studied AP chemistry, isn't quite sure where he wants to attend college next year. But he does want to continue on the science track.

"I want to study some field of engineering or go into the sciences," he added.

Warot's mentor, Dr. Kawai, is enthusiastic about his student's potential. "What he's doing here is mostly college-level science," he said.

"He did a good job," the mentor added, after explaining the extensive studies and experiments the teen performed involving oral bacteria, periodontal disease and green tea.

And the program founder agrees.

"Greg is an example of someone who's been very successful here," Dr. Taubman said of the summer intern. "He's a very talented guy and he's done some very nice work. We're really very proud of him."