Oakton Student Named Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar

The Regeneron Science Talent Search has named 300 high school seniors as scholars in the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition. The 300 scholars represent 38 states, the District of Columbia and two countries. Virginia has 12 scholars, including one from Oakton.

Carolyn Qu, 17, of Oakton High School, was selected with a research project titled "Monitoring and Predicting Agriculture Drought and Food Security over the Horn of Africa (HOA) with NASA Satellite Remote Sensing Measurements." Each of the 300 scholars and his or her respective school receive a $2,000 award.

The scholars were selected from a pool of nearly 2,000 applications sent in by 601 high schools in 48 states, two U.S. territories and eligible students living in seven other countries, according to a press release.

"The scholars were selected based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists," the press release said. "This year, research projects cover topics from bioengineering to environmental science to physics."

Of the 300 scholars, 40 will be named finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search on Jan. 23. The finalists will travel to Washington D.C. March 7-13 to compete for more than $1.8 million in awards provided by Regeneron.

Regeneron became a sponsor of the competition in 2017. The competition is founded and produced by Society for Science & the Public.

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