Top 300 Regeneron Scholars Include 2 Arlington Students

ARLINGTON, VA — Two students from Arlington Public Schools were chosen as top 300 Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search is the nation's most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

According to Regeneron, "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 Arlington Regeneron scholars and their projects are:

• Julia Westwater Brodsky, 17, H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program
  • Project: Characterization of Novel Acinetobacter baumannii Phages EAb3 and EAb7.
• Ambica Sharma, 18, Washington-Liberty High School
  • Novel Aurora Kinase, EZH2 and BET Inhibitor Small Molecular Compound Combinations
    To Treat Glioblastoma Multiforme.

The 300 Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,949 applications from 627 high schools across 48 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and four other countries. Scholars receive $2,000 each from Regeneron, and their schools receive $2,000 for each scholar.

Additional awards are possible if scholars are named finalist. From the 300 scholars, 40 finalists will be named and will compete for over $1.8 million in awards during a competition in Washington, D.C., from March 9 to 15.

"The enthusiasm and quality of projects from this year's participants were just outstanding," said Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of the Society for Science and publisher of Science News. "Each year, I am tremendously impressed by the ingenuity that the students bring to the competition."

The Regeneron Science Talent Search started in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. Today, the competition spotlights promising young scientists who are developing ideas to solve society's top challenges. Science Talent Search alumni have gone on to receive other honors, including Nobel Prizes, Fields Medals, MacArthur Fellowships and more.