Santa Cruz Student Named Semifinalist for Prestigious Science Award

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A Santa Cruz student has been named a semifinalist in the Regeneron 2017 Science Talent Search.

Pacific Collegiate School senior Spencer Michael Cheleden, 17, was chosen as one of just 300 semifinalists, or Scholars, nationwide. He is now in the running to be named as one of 40 finalists that will head to Washington, D.C. in March to compete for the top prize of $250,000. The finalists will be announced on Jan. 24.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search (formerly run by Intel) is one of the most prestigious science competitions for high school students in the country. More than 1,700 applicants submitted their projects this year.

Cheleden's project: Design and Characterization of Silver-based Nanolaminate Astronomical Coatings.

Congratulations to the semifinalists!

Also See:

• Shootout on I-580 Off-Ramp in Castro Valley: Deputies
  
• San Francisco Firefighters Head to Central America for Training Mission
  
• 'Warriors Mom' Steals the Show at Oracle Arena
  
• Please Don't Help My Kids
  

- Patch editor Justin Heinze contributed to this report