Regeneron finalists: Get to know the young scientists from Long Island
Regeneron finalists Emily Kim and Kevin Zhu, both of Jericho High School, and Miah Margiano, of St. Anthony's High School in Huntington. Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas and Ray O’Connor Photography
Three Long Island high school students are competing in Washington, D.C., as finalists in the nation’s most prestigious and well-known science competition: Regeneron Science Talent Search.
Representing the Island are Miah Margiano, of St. Anthony's High School in Huntington, and Emily Kim and Kevin Zhu, both of Jericho High School.
Finals week started Thursday, and the top 10 finishers will be announced Tuesday.
The 40 finalists — all high school seniors — are competing for awards ranging from $40,000 to $250,000. Each student automatically receives $25,000 for reaching the finals.
Finalists may use their award prize money solely for educational purposes and can have those funds released directly to their college or university.
Regeneron selections are based on research skills, academics, innovation and promise as scientists. The competition is in its 82nd year.
Finalists were selected by a national jury of professional scientists from a pool of 300 semifinalists, who were announced earlier in January. The competition drew applications from more than 1,900 highly qualified entrants, all of whom completed an original research project. The finalists represent 34 schools across 14 states.
Here's how Long Island's finalists say they got there:
Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
Emily Kim
School: Jericho High School
Age: 17
College and intended major: Uncommitted
Project Title: "The Dual Roles of Activated Carbon as an Adsorbent and Photocatalyst for Azo Dye Removal"
Credit: Newsday/ John Paraskevas
I’m so excited to meet people from all around the country and share my research and passion with them!
— Emily Kim
Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
Kevin Zhu
Age: 18
School: Jericho High School
College and intended major: Admitted to Stanford University, Bioengineering/Economics double major
Project Title: "Recurrent Repeat Contractions and Micro-Changing Short Tandem Repeats: Investigating Underrepresented Factors of Polymorphism in Human Cancers"
Credit: Newsday/ John Paraskevas
It still feels surreal to be an STS finalist. It's one of the big accomplishments we all stared at in awe as science research students back in early high school. It's a huge testament to a culmination of nearly three years of work, and I'm honored to be able to compete at finals in March.
— Kevin Zhu
Credit: Ray O’Connor Photography
Miah Margiano
School: St. Anthony’s High School
Age: 18
College and intended major: The University of Pennsylvania; double major: public health and biology
Project Title: "Spontaneous Regression in Neuroblastoma: Analysis of Prognostic IncRNAs"
Credit: Ray O’Connor Photography
Receiving this award and being selected to represent my school and Long Island is still completely surreal. This achievement serves as a personal validation that my work is important and that I am on the right path as an aspiring scientist.
— Miah Margiano
Joie Tyrrell is a Long Island native and covers education for Newsday, where she has worked since 1998.
