2 Greenwich High Seniors Named Top 40 Finalists In Talent Search

Information via Greenwich Public Schools

GREENWICH, CT — The Society for Science & the Public announced Friday that Greenwich High School seniors Hannah Goldenberg and Edgar Sosa were named as top 40 finalists in the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation's oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

Student finalists are awarded an additional $25,000, after winning an initial $2,000 for their recognition as RSTS Scholars, according to a news release.

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"Greenwich High School continues to shine as one of the leading research programs in the nation," GHS science teacher Andrew Bramante said in a release. "For instance, dating back to 2012, GHS Science Research has had 37 RSTS scholars, and now seven RSTS finalists, which is simply incredible."

The RSTS finalists were selected from the 300 RSTS scholars named earlier. These scholars were selected from 1,760 applications received from 611 high schools across 45 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and 10 countries.

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

From March 10-17, all 40 finalists will compete for more than $1.8 million in awards provided by Regeneron.

"Being selected as a Regeneron Science Talent Search Finalist places both Hannah and Edgar in similar company with many talented young scientists that have become leaders in science and technology (including Nobel Prize winners), who have devised solutions to many critical issues of our past," Bramante said. "What Hannah and Edgar both share, and what is most commendable, is their true love for scientific discovery for the most profound reason...to use their inherent gifts of creativity and imagination to help others. I'm so incredibly proud of them both."

The Greenwich High School finalists and their project titles include:

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

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

The additional two Greenwich High School students who were named as scholars and their project titles include:

• 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

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