RSI Alumni Honors

Intel and Siemens Competitions

Since its inception, the Research Science Institute has been a leading source of winners and honorees in prestigious high school science competitions. In 2003 and 2007, RSI alumni garnered the top prizes in both the Intel and Siemens science competitions.

RSI students do very well in the annual Siemens Competition. In 2007, an RSI alumnus from the class of 2006 was selected the first place winner; and fourteen other students from the same class were chosen as semifinalists. In 2005, five RSI students were finalists, including a 2nd place winner. In 2004, an RSI alumnus won second place. In 2003, six students from RSI 2002 placed as finalists in the Siemens Competition, including the first place winner.

With more than 115 finalists and 380 semifinalists among its alumni, CEE has had more students chosen as Intel Science Talent Search Honorees and Winners than any other U.S. educational organization. RSI alumni claimed first prize in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2007. In 2007, twenty-four students from the RSI class of 2006 were selected as semifinalists, including the first, third, and seventh place winners. In 2006, twenty-one students from the RSI class of 2005 were semifinalists, including the second and tenth place winners. In 2005, thirty-one students from the RSI class of 2004 were semifinalists, including the third, fourth, and tenth place winners. In 2004, twenty-one students from the RSI class of 2003 were semifinalists, including seven finalists and the second, fourth, seventh, and eighth place winners.

University Admissions

RSI students regularly attend the nation's top-tier universities. The large number of RSI alumni at some of the nation's best schools ensures that students arrive on campus with a ready-made academic community. The network of RSI alumni remains active throughout a student's academic career.

Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships

RSI alumni have performed exceptionally well in these prestigious British fellowship competitions. William Hwang, RSI '01, was a 2006-2007 Rhodes Scholar. Finale Doshi, RSI '00, and Emma Schmidgall, RSI '02, were selected as 2006-2007 Marshall Scholars. Allison Gilmore, RSI '99, was a 2003-2004 Rhodes Scholar. Jeremy England, RSI '98, and Dave Chokshi, RSI '98, were among the 2002-2003 Rhodes Scholars. The 2002-2003 Marshall Scholars included Samidh Chakrabarti, RSI '98.

Fields Medal and MacArthur "Genius Grant" Winner

RSI alumnus Terence Tao was awarded the 2006 Fields Medal and named a MacArthur Fellow in recognition of his outstanding research in mathematics. The Fields Medal is the mathematical world's equivalent of the Nobel Prize and is awarded every 4 years to a select group of mathematicians under the age of 40. At 31, Tao was one of the youngest mathematicians ever to receive this honor. The MacArthur award, known as the "Genius Grant," awards $500,000 fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.