Greenwich High School Seniors Named as Top 300 Scholars in 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search

Greenwich High School seniors Hannah Goldenberg, Alexander Patti, Sofia Pronina, and Edgar Sosa were honored in the list of Top 300 Scholars in the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search (RSTS), the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Student scholars are each awarded $2,000.

The awards were announced in Society for Science & the Public.

“Over the past 14 years, an astounding 37 GHS students have been selected as RSTS scholars, five of which have gone on to become finalists in the competition,” said Andew Bramante, GHS Science Teacher and Research Advisor. “This places the GHS Science Research program alongside the most prestigious science-specialized and public high school programs throughout the country.”

The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,760 applications received from 611 high schools across 45 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and 10 countries.

According to the competition program, “Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists, and hail from 198 American and international high schools in 37 states, Puerto Rico, Chinese Taipei, and Singapore.”

On January 21, 2021, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. From March 10-17, 2021, all 40 finalists will compete for more than $1.8 million in awards provided by Regeneron.

Bramante added, “Greenwich High School continues to shine as one of the leading research programs in the nation. These students are so amazing in their creativity, imagination, hard work, and intellect, all of which have been nurtured by our amazing staff in the Greenwich Public School system.”

The Greenwich High School Scholars and their project titles include:

●      Hannah Goldenberg

Project Title: Linking Continued Exposure to E-Cigarette Vapor Constituents with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

●      Alexander Patti

Project Title: Plant Growth Enhancement & Fungal Disease Suppression via Copper, Zinc, and Manganese Nanoparticle Foliar Sprays

●      Sofia Pronina

Project Title: Carbon Nanotube Lab-on-Chip as a Rapid, Inexpensive, Lyme Disease Detection System

●      Edgar Sosa

Project Title: Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Suppression of Coffee Rust Using an Alternaria, Stomata-Sporulating Model Fungus

“An exceptional group of student leaders and innovators comprise this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars, with an array of projects that demonstrate the power of science,” Regeneron’s Senior VP of Corporate Communications and Citizenship Hala Mirza said in a release. “We are honored to celebrate the next generation of young scientists and inventors who can elevate the STEM community and our broader society through their high-quality research and novel discoveries. These are the inspiring problem solvers who will help address the current and future challenges facing our world.”

The full list of scholars can be viewed on Society for Science’s webpage.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search, a program of Society for Science since 1942, is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Each year, nearly 2,000 student entrants submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study and are judged by leading experts in their fields. Unique among high school competitions in the U.S. and around the world, the Regeneron Science Talent Search focuses on identifying, inspiring and engaging the nation’s most promising young scientists who are creating the ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.

In 2017, Regeneron became only the third sponsor of the Science Talent Search as a way to help reward and celebrate the best and brightest young minds and encourage them to pursue careers in STEM as a way to positively impact the world. Through its 10-year, $100 million commitment, Regeneron nearly doubled the overall award distribution to $3.1 million annually, increasing the top award to $250,000 and doubling the awards for the top 300 scholars and their schools to $2,000 each to inspire more young people to engage in science.

Program alumni include recipients of the world’s most coveted science and math honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes, 11 National Medals of Science, six Breakthrough Prizes, 21 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and two Fields Medals.