Morganville Teen Named Finalist In Nationwide Science & Math Competition

MORGANVILLE, NJ — A Morganville teenager has been named as a 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Scholar, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition for high school seniors.

Rohan Arni, a senior at High Technology High School in Middletown, was selected as a scholar from a pool of over 2,600 applicants from 826 high schools around the world, officials said.

Only 300 students were selected as scholars, placing Arni among the top science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students nationwide.

As part of the Regeneron Science Talent Search, each scholar receives a $2,000 award, and their school is also awarded $2,000 in recognition of its support for advanced student research.

Following his selection as a Regeneron Science Talent Scholar, Arni was named a 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search Finalist, placing him among the top 40 STEM students in the United States.

According to program officials, Arni was recognized for his original research project, titled “Using Deep Learning for Robust Classification of Fast Radio Bursts,” which applies advanced machine learning techniques to analyze fast radio bursts, brief and powerful cosmic radio signals originating from distant regions of the universe.

His work contributes to ongoing scientific efforts to deepen the understanding of these rare astrophysical phenomena.

“It’s a great honor to be named a Scholar, knowing that I’m following the path of distinguished scientists and personal heroes,” said Arni, who will attend Princeton University in the fall to study physics.

“The award is an incredible inspiration to continue exploring the universe, especially after being recognized as an Honorable Mention for the Davidson Fellows program,” he continued. “I would like to thank Regeneron and the Society for Science for this incredible opportunity.”

Presented by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in partnership with the Society for Science, the Regeneron Science Talent Search is now in its 85th year and recognizes outstanding high school seniors for original, independent research, officials said.

Scholars are selected based on the rigor and originality of their work, as well as their academic achievement and demonstrated promise as future STEM leaders.

Arni’s selection highlights the strength of High Technology High School’s STEM-focused curriculum and serves as an inspiration to students pursuing advanced coursework and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, district officials said.

“Rohan’s recognition as a top 300 scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search reflects not only his exceptional intellect, but also his perseverance, curiosity, and maturity as a researcher,” said Dr. Dina Ellsworth, lead research teacher at High Technology High School.

“Throughout his research, he demonstrated an impressive ability to integrate advanced computational methods with high-level astrophysical questions,” Ellsworth continued. “He consistently approaches complex scientific problems with creativity and rigor, both in and out of the classroom, and this achievement is a well-deserved acknowledgment of his dedication to authentic scientific inquiry.”

To learn more about the Regeneron Science Talent Search, you can visit their website.

To learn more about High Technology High School, or the Monmouth County Vocational School District, you can click here.