2 Students From Harrison HS Named Regeneron Semifinalists

HARRISON, NY — 32 students from across the Hudson Valley, including two from Harrison High School, were named semifinalists, or Scholars, in the prestigious 2023 Regeneron Science Talent Search.

The Society for Science announced the 300 Scholars on Tuesday, and 32 of them were from the Hudson Valley. The 300 Scholars were selected from the 1,949 student-scientists who entered the competition. They were chosen based on their research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and promise as STEM leaders demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendations.

"The enthusiasm and quality of projects from this year’s participants were just outstanding," said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of the Society for Science and publisher of Science News.

"Each year, I am tremendously impressed by the ingenuity that the students bring to the competition. Their hard work, creativity and perseverance should be applauded."

For being named Scholars, each student will receive $2,000, and their schools will receive $2,000 for each of them.

The Science Talent Search will name 40 finalists, chosen from among the 300 Scholars, on Jan. 24. Those finalists will then go on to compete for more than $1.8 million in awards during a week-long competition in Washington, D.C. from March 9-15.

The two local scholars and their projects are:

• Ariella Maia Blackman, 18, Harrison High School, Project Title: Developing a Model in situ Resource Utilization System for Oxygen-Sustaining Life Support and Launch Cost Reduction for Mars
• Lauren Davidson, 17, Harrison High School, Project Title: The Effect of Copper Sulfate Concentration on Locomotor Ability and Lifespan of Alzheimer’s Model Drosophila melanogaster

SEE ALSO: 32 Hudson Valley Students Named Regeneron Scholars For 2023