Ossining Student Is One of 40 Finalists in National Competition

Ossining High School student Skyler Jones has been selected as one of 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, a prestigious math and science competition for high school seniors.

Regeneron and the Society for Science & the Public announced the finalists Tuesday. The students will travel to Washington in March to compete for more than $1.8 million in awards. Each finalist receives at least $25,000, and the top 10 awards range from $40,000 to $250,000.

Skyler studied the use of perovskite crystals as semiconductors in solar cells, which are the parts of the solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. They are more efficient and less expensive than silicon solar cells, which are the industry standard, and they don’t have to be as pure.

“It had previously been known that perovskites can perform nearly as well as silicon at a fraction of the cost,” Skyler said. “Now, based on my research, we know why that is, which will help developers to optimize perovskite solar cell efficiencies and develop new semiconductor materials with the same charge carrier protection mechanisms.”

Since 2001, 68 OHS students have been selected as semifinalists, said Science Research Program teacher Angelo Piccirillo. Skyler is the fourth finalist during that period. Finalists were chosen based on their project’s scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientific leaders, according to Regeneron and the Center for Science & the Public.

Skyler, one of five finalists from New York, is an amazing student, Mr. Piccirillo said. “If you closed your eyes and forgot the fact that she’s a high school kid, you’d think you were speaking to someone with a Ph.D.,” he said. “I think people need to appreciate just how hard this is and what an amazing feat it is to be recognized.”

Being selected as a finalist is life-changing and is a testament to everything Ossining High School and the community have done to build the program, Mr. Piccirillo said.

OHS had four semifinalists this year out of 300 from around the country. The other three are Sarah Hoffman, Catherine Kamp and Emma San Martin.

Science Research Program teacher Valerie Holmes said she’s thrilled for Skyler – and not surprised that she was selected as a finalist. The depth of Skyler’s knowledge and understanding of the science is incredible. “As a teacher, normally you feel like you’re in the role of teaching them the content,” Ms. Holmes said. “In this case, it’s totally the opposite.”

Skyler knew she wanted to study science, but the Science Research Program helped her find her passion. “Without it, I would not have known what I wanted to do with my life,” she said.

She has been accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she will study chemistry and physics and continue researching solar semiconductors.

The finalists will be in Washington from March 8-14. During that time, they will meet leading scientists and members of Congress and display their projects at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

“This year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists are some of the best and brightest young scientists and mathematicians in our country,” said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science & the Public. “Their projects demonstrate the remarkable power of scientific curiosity, commitment and the desire to make the world a better place.”