5 Greenwich Students Earn High Honors In Regeneron Talent Search

GREENWICH, CT — The Society for Science recently announced the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022, and the list includes five Greenwich students:

Steven Blank, Greenwich High School
Project: Design of a Rapid, Sensitive SARS CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Luminescent Detection Card for COVID-19.

Alexa Nakanashi, Greenwich High School
Project: Multi-Component Fixation Tracking in Gaze Interaction for Rapid, Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Specific Learning Disorders.

Ella Moore, Greenwich High School
Project: Inhibition of COVID-19 Respiratory Complications via an R-954 Peptide Bradykinin 1 Receptor Antagonist.

Sachi Laumas, Greenwich Academy
Project: The Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms by Which MYB Regulates MEP Fate Decision

Natalie Shell, Greenwich Academy
Project: Developing and Testing Updated Geometric Structures to Model the Optical Properties of Spirulina, a Helical Photosynthetic Microorganism.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists as demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendation.

Each scholar, selected from 1,804 entrants across the country, Puerto Rico and eight other countries, will receive a $2,000 award with an additional $2,000 going to their respective school, resulting in $1.2 million in total scholar awards from Regeneron.

On Jan. 20, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. The finalists will then compete for more than $1.8 million in awards during a week-long competition taking place March 10-16.

"Amid an unprecedented and ongoing global health crisis, we are incredibly inspired to see such an extraordinary group of young leaders who are using the power of STEM to solve the world’s most intractable challenges," said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science, in a news release. "The ingenuity and creativity that each one of these scholars possesses has shown just how much intellectual curiosity and passion can thrive, even in difficult times."

Andy Bramante, a science research and ESL chemistry teacher at Greenwich High School, praised his students for the accomplishment.

"These students are so amazing in their creativity, imagination, hard work, and intellect, all of which are nurtured in the Greenwich Public School system," Bramante said. "All of those GHS students that applied to the 2022 STS, conducted a large portion of their research at school, after hours, and within the constraints of last year’s hybrid schedule. This dedication speaks directly to their passion and commitment to their work."

Head of School at GA, Molly Saleeby, called the honor an "extraordinary accomplishment."

"We could not be more proud of the valuable work they’ve done, the incredible example they set for those behind them, and the contributions they’ve made—and continue to make—to our STEM program and GA’s reputation as a national leader in STEM education," she said in a news release.

Christina Chan, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications & Citizenship at Regeneron, added in a news release: "We are honored to celebrate this new generation of problem solvers who have demonstrated the depth of their innovative thinking, commitment to continuous learning, and ability to tackle global challenges in creative ways."

A full list of the top 300 scholars can be found here.