Hinsdale Central High School Senior Honored as Semifinalist in National Science Competition

Hinsdale Central senior Divya Pillai was recognized in January as an Intel Science Talent Search National Semifinalist. Pillai, 17, of Oak Brook is the first-ever District 86 student to receive this honor from the pre-college science competition.
 
Pillai’s project “Co-Binding Relationships of Transcription Factors in Stem Cells” placed her among 300 Semifinalists honored after the Intel Science Talent Search reviewed 1,744 applicants. Her research focused on possibilities to develop stem cells into any type of human cell.

From the select pool of Semifinalists, 40 finalists were invited to Washington, D.C. this month to participate in final judging, display their work to the public, meet with notable scientists and compete for the top award of $100,000. Pillai was not among those asked to participate in the final judging, but the school said they were excited about her accomplishment.
 
“We are thrilled and honored that Divya has been recognized by the Intel Science Talent Search for her outstanding achievement,” said Michael McGrory, Hinsdale Central principal. “To do something that no Hinsdale student has ever done before speaks volumes to her hard work, ingenuity and determination.”
 
In addition to being named an Intel Science Talent Search National Semifinalist, Pillai is one of 21 District 86 students recently honored as National Merit Finalists.

At Hinsdale Central, she serves as president for the Science Olympiad and Biology Club while also participating in the Junior Engineering and Technical Society, the Character Counts Student Life Team, Drama Club, Scholastic Bowl and several choir groups. In 2010, Pillai was one of four District 86 students to score a perfect 36 on her ACT exam.