OHS Students Named Semifinalists in Science Talent Search

Six students from Ossining High School’s renowned Science Research Program are among the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2023, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

Samara Davis, Sarah Gardner, AriAnnah Goodwin, Sarah Jennings, Jesse Lynch, and Joseph Robertazzi have placed as semifinalists in this year’s competition. Their projects cover topics ranging from black holes to migratory bird populations to treatment for decreased sound tolerance in adolescents and more.

“I’m thrilled to see our students achieve this prestigious honor,” said Valerie Holmes, OHS Science Teacher and Co-Director of the Science Research Program. “Their success is the culmination of countless hours of hard work, dedication to research, outstanding execution of their projects, and the support they’ve received from their mentors. This is yet another very proud moment for our students and program.”

According to the Society for Science, the Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,949 applications from 627 high schools across 48 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and four other countries. Scholars were chosen based on their outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and exceptional promise as STEM leaders demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendations.

“I’m incredibly proud of these young scientists for what they’ve accomplished,” said Angelo Piccirillo, OHS Science Teacher and Co-Director of the Science Research Program. “Through this competition, their projects have earned the national recognition they deserve. Our research students inspire us every day to work at the highest level and they are so proud to represent the Ossining community. We also need to recognize their OHS teachers, research mentors and all the scientists who help our program continue to have scholars year after year.”

On January 24, 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 in Washington, D.C., taking place March 9-15.

“These exceptional students have again displayed that our Science Research Program is among the best in the world,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Raymond Sanchez. “The breadth of their projects and quality of work is unmatched, and I’m truly impressed by these young scholars for their rigorous research and discoveries. Thank you to Ms. Holmes and Mr. Piccirillo, and all Ossining educators who support our students—they really are the future leaders in STEM.”

Ossining High School Regeneron Science Talent Search 2023 Semifinalists and their Projects:

• Samara Davis: Developing Environmental DNA Metabarcoding for the Detection of Elusive Vernal Pool-Breeding Amphibians
• Sarah Gardner: Co-Evolving Across Time: Black Holes as Regulators of Their Host Galaxy Properties
• AriAnnah Goodwin: Forecasting Visual Aura Characteristics: Perceived Stress Does Not Predict Temporal Aura Features in Adolescents
• Sarah Delia Jennings: Electron Transport Chain Acts as Potential Regulator of ER-Mitochondria Interactions
• Jesse Lynch: Aerobic Exercise Serves as an Effective and Immediate Treatment for Decreased Sound Tolerance in Adolescents
• Joseph Miguel Robertazzi: Migration and Magnetism: A Longitudinal Analysis Identifying the Relationship Between the South Atlantic Anomaly and Shifts in Migratory Bird Populations