Six RSI Alumni Named Regeneron STS Finalists

McLean, VA January 21, 2021 — The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) is pleased to announce that six Research Science Institute (RSI) alumni are among the top 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. 

“This is a wonderful accomplishment for Research Science Institute alumni and CEE,” said Joann DiGennaro, CEE President. “I am so very proud of these students who represent the future of U.S. global leadership in science and technology.” 

The RSI 2020 alumni named as 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search finalistsare: Sarah Chen, Phillips Academy, MA; Yunseo Choi, Phillips Exeter Academy, NH; Marvin Li, James M. Bennett High School, MD; Andrei Mandelshtam, University High School, CA; Vivian Yee, International Academy, MI; and Amy Zhou, William P. Clements High School, TX. 

The 2021 finalists were selected from 1,760 highly qualified entrants, all of whom completed an original research project and an extensive application process. Earlier this month, the Society and Regeneron named the top 300 scholars. The finalists were selected based on their projects’ scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientists and leaders.Twenty-one RSI alumni and a USA Biolympiad alumnus are among the top 300 scholars. See the full list of alumni here.

The finalists will participate in a virtual competition from March 10-17, 2021, where they will undergo a rigorous virtual judging process to compete for more than $1.8 million in awards. They will also have an opportunity to interact with leading scientists and display their projects to the public during a virtual event on March 14. Usually held in person in Washington, D.C., the 2021 competition will take place virtually.

The finalists are each awarded at least $25,000, and the top 10 awards range from $40,000 to $250,000. The top 10 Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021 winners will be announced during a live-streamed virtual awards ceremony on March 17. In total, more than $3 million in awards will be distributed throughout the Regeneron Science Talent Search, which includes awards to finalists as well as $2,000 provided to each of the top 300 scholars and their schools.

About the Center for Excellence in Education
CEE was founded in 1983 by the late Admiral H.G. Rickover and Joann P. DiGennaro, President of the Center. The Center's mission is to nurture high school and university scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineeringand mathematics, and to encourage collaboration between and among leaders in the global community. CEE sponsors the Research Science Institute (RSI), the USA Biolympiad (USABO), and the Teacher Enrichment Program (TEP). For more information, visit CEE’s website at https://www.cee.org. 

About Research Science Institute
RSI is a summer science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program collaboratively sponsored with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that combines on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research. Students conduct original, cutting edge research in state-of-the-art university laboratories, hospitals, and corporate research facilities. Students make oral and written presentations based on their research during the last week of the program. RSI is offered at no cost to all students competitively selected to attend.More information is at https://www.cee.org/research-science-institute.