LI's students always inspire

There was much to celebrate with this week's announcement that 49 Long Island high school students were named semifinalists in this year's Regeneron Science Talent Search. Our region produced more scholars than any other in the country, including New York City. 

Begin by congratulating the students themselves, who have shown they are among the best. If history is a guide, some of their work in medicine and mathematics and the environment could be groundbreaking. The breadth and depth of their efforts amazes, even if most of us can't understand the titles of their projects. It's thrilling to realize these students are just tapping their potential and have more to offer — hopefully here on the Island. Some might become the region's next great scientists, inventors and business owners.

We can praise, too, the mentors and families who helped cultivate their talent, the universities and research institutions that provided the facilities to nurture it, and the schools that gave them the opportunity to develop it. These students are a vivid reminder of why our region spends so much money, time and effort on our schools, and how critical education is to Long Island's identity. Many of us choose our homes based on the school district our children will attend. Our schools and our students make us strong, and keep property values high.

But it's equally important to remember that not every student on Long Island has the opportunity to become a Regeneron scholar. Our schools are a dismaying cross-section of haves and have-nots. Some school districts simply don't have the resources to hire teachers and purchase equipment and set aside classroom space and time devoted to programs like Regeneron. Some lack the partnerships with colleges and labs such programs require. Some have to focus on more fundamental concerns that their students are facing, like whether they have a safe place to live or enough to eat. Others might need to focus extra resources on students with special needs, or English language learners.

Even with the offering of every advantage, it's important to remember that not every student will be — or wants to be — a Regeneron scholar. And that's fine. Our students have many talents in many areas, and it's vital to give all of them the opportunity, resources, and encouragement to shine in their respective fields, whether that's sports, the arts, technology, or something else.

These 49 Regeneron scholars show what's possible when students with curiosity and drive receive the right mentoring, partnerships and attention. We honor them for their achievements. And we hope they serve as a reminder that if we nurture all of our students' many interests and allow them to flourish, anything is possible.