Commack HS Has Regeneron Scholar

COMMACK, NY — Ishana Chadha, a senior at Commack High School, was selected as one of 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Commack School District announced.

The Regeneron competition is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

Chadha and Commack High School will each be awarded $2,000.

She now advances to consideration to become one of 40 finalists, which will be announced on Jan. 23.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from nearly 2,500 entrants from 795 high schools across 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 14 other countries.

Commack has a "proud tradition" of students achieving in the Regeneron competition, according to the district.

The high school has produced 14 scholars in the past decade: Jonathan Zhang (2024), Soyoun "Ashley" Moon (2022), Kimberly Liao (2020), S. Shamtej Singh Rana (2020), Pragati Muthukumar (2019), Daniel Lee (2018), Anoop Singh (2018), Jordan Cooper (2017), Abby Cuomo (2017), David Li (2016), Mehtaab Sawhney (2016), Scott Massa (2015) and Matthew O’Connell (2015).

Chadha's project was entitled, "Understanding Neuronal Migration in Brain Development: The Role of Oligophrenin1 in Modulating Radial Migration of Pyramidal Neurons by Interaction With Pacsin2."

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. The 300 scholars hail from 200 American and international high schools in 33 states, Washington D.C., China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Switzerland.

The full list of scholars can be viewed here.

"Congratulations to the 300 scholars in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search," said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of the Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News. "With a record-breaking number of applications, these exceptional young scientists and engineers represent the best in the nation. We are thrilled to celebrate their ingenuity, hard work, and passion for STEM."