Four Smithtown Students Named Regeneron Scholars

SMITHTOWN, NY - Four Smithtown High School students were among a total of 46 Long Island seniors who were named Scholars (or semifinalists) in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2018.

High School East seniors Sydney Bracht, Cindy Li and Shrey Thaker and High School West senior Sarah Adamo 's projects were chosen from over 1,000 applicants from high schools across the nation, Puerto Rico, and internationally.

All four are in the running to be among the 40 finalists that will compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships.

Under the direction of Maria Zeilin, the Smithtown High School East science research coordinator, Bracht, Li and Thaker have been recognized for their science research projects.

Bracht (left), Thaker and Li (right) pictured with Zeitlin and Smithtown High School East Principal Dr. Kevin Simmons

Bracht’s project is “A Reverse Genetic Approach to Identify Novel Regulators of Cell Invasive Behavior.” Li’s research focuses on “The Role of Sts-1 and Sts-2 in ROS Response in Mononuclear Phagocytes,” while Thaker’s research was conducted on “The Role of miR-34a in Colorectal Cancer Racial Health Disparity.”

Adamo was recognized for her research project on “Acetylcholine and Nicotine Potentiate Currents in Cells Isolated from the Sea Anemone Nematostella vectensis.”

She was advised by Smithtown High School West science research coordinator Dr. Joanne Figueiredo.

Adamo pictured with Smithtown High School West Principal John Coady and Figueiredo

There were 300 students total, selected from the 1,818 students who entered the competition this year. Each of the Scholars will receive a $2,000 reward, and their schools will also receive $2,000.

Click here for a full list of all the Long Island winners.

The finalists will be announced later this month, and those students will head to Washington, D.C. in March to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships.

Congratulations to Sydney Bracht, Cindy Li and Shrey Thaker and Sarah Adamo!

Photo courtesy of the Smithtown School District