County Executive Congratulates
Regeneron Student Award Winners
Westchester County Executive George Latimer is applauding local high school scientists for their pioneering ideas at the 2022 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. In total Westchester students received more than $25,000 in scholarship money for their innovative projects.
Latimer said: “We are confident these students will make waves in the science world and remain on the cutting edge of their chosen fields. These projects are a testament of how engaged our educators are with our students. We are looking forward to seeing what they accomplish in the future as leaders and as role models.”
Co-founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., said: “As someone who got his start by doing a high school science project, I fully appreciate the critical importance of our supporting the next generation of young scientists, via programs like the Regeneron Science Talent Search and the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, or ISEF. This year’s ISEF finalists are some of the brightest young minds from around the world, and provide hope for addressing global existential challenges from future pandemics to climate change. I am continually impressed by and proud of the strong showing from our Westchester community, with 25 students earning a spot at this year’s ISEF. I congratulate them for their hard work and am eager to see what they achieve in their scientific journeys.”
The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF), a program of Society for Science for over 70 years, is the world’s largest global science competition for high school. Through a global network of local, regional and national science fairs, millions of students are encouraged to explore their passion for science. Each spring, a group of these students are selected as finalists and offered the opportunity to compete for approximately $8 million in awards and scholarships. ISEF alumni have gone on to have world-changing careers in science and engineering and earn some of the most esteemed honors, including National Medal of Science recipients, MacArthur Foundation Fellows, National Academy of Sciences Members and National Academy of Engineering Inductees.
Below are the list of award winners from local Westchester County schools:
• Ariella Maia Blackman, Harrison High School, Harrison. Award: First Award of $750 from Air Force Research Laboratory on behalf of the United States Air Force; Second Award of $2,000 in Plant Sciences. Project Title: Developing a Model in situ Resource Utilization System for Oxygen Sustaining Life Support and Launch Cost Reduction for Mars
• Mai Blaustein, Harrison High School, Harrison. Award: Diploma of Recognition and $100 gift card from the American Chemical Society. Project Title: Identification of Chemical Contaminants in Spiked Beverages With the Use of Infrared Spectroscopy Through Development of Inexpensive and Inconspicuous Device To Identify Date-Rape Drugs
• Jack Kelly, Harrison High School, Harrison. Award: Fourth Award of $500 in Behavioral and Social Sciences. Project Title: Quantifying Linguistic Polarization for Congressional Representatives Facing Primary Challengers: A Random Effects Logit Regression Approach
• Anisha Musti, Edgemont High School, Scarsdale. Award: Third Place Award in “Cybersecurity” from the National Security Agency Research Directorate. Project Title: Designing a Quantum Teleportation Circuit on Novel Qubits
• Anika Puri, Horace Greeley High School, Chappaqua. Award: Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication of $10,000; First Award in Earth and Environmental Science of $5,000. Project Title: ElSa: A Novel Real-Time Wildlife Poacher Detection Solution Leveraging Machine Learning-Driven Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Nighttime UAV Thermal Infrared Videos
• Olivia Reiff Pollock, Pelham Memorial High School, Pelham. Award: The Patrick Hurd Sustainability Award, which covers travel for the ISEF finalist to attend and participate in EPA’s National Sustainable Design Expo, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Project Title: Developing and Assessing Fucose-Based Water-Soluble Bioplastics
Listed below are students who qualified to present their projects in the science categories:
• Tista Goswami: Medicine and Health Sciences – Mamaroneck HS
• Julia Meyerson: Engineering – Pelham Memorial HS
• Leah Sherbansky: Medicine and Health Sciences – Pelham Memorial HS