Millburn Seniors Named Scholars in Talent Search
Millburn Township Public Schools
Congratulations to Eric Wang, Jacob Winick, Andy Xu, seniors in the Millburn High School Science Research Program taught by Dr. Susan Arrigoni under the supervision of Ms. Gina Cocchiaro, Science Department Chair.
As a capstone to the science research program students apply to the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Regeneron STS is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition for high school seniors. Eric, Jacob and Andy have been named by The Society for Science as a top 300 Scholar in the 82nd Regeneron STS.
These three students 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.
These 3 students’ projects represent research in several different science disciplines:
- Andy Xu – Computer Science
- Jacob Winick – Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Eric Wang – Plant Sciences
Eric Wang
Project Title: Effects of Various Soil Microbiomes on Native and Invasive Plants
Jacob Winick
Project Title: Targeting Neoantigens Derived From the ZRSR2 Mutation in Hematologic Malignancies
Andy Xu
Project Title: VAPOR: A Novel Approach to Power Forecasting in a Photovoltaic Microgrid
This is an extraordinary accomplishment deserving of much celebration! In recognition of this achievement, each scholar will receive $2,000, and Millburn High School will also receive $2,000 per scholar to use toward STEM-related activities.
The announcement of the top 40 finalists will take place on January 24th. Finalists will each receive $25,000 and will participate in a week-long competition in March. Finalists will share their research with the public, participate in judging, meet top scientists and form relationships with one another as they compete for more than $1.8 million, including the first-place prize of $250,000. We will continue to keep you posted as to Eric, Jacob and Andy’s success.
The competition is owned and produced by Society for Science.
Throughout its history, the competition’s alumni have been honored with 13 Nobel Prizes, 11 National Medals of Science, six Breakthrough Prizes, 22 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and two Fields Medals.
The full list of this year’s scholars is available here: Top 300 STS Scholars
