On Thursday evening, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D – Long Island, Queens) recognized and honored high school students from New York’s 3rd Congressional District for their achievements in life science, computer science, and mathematics in the Regeneron Science Talent Search and the Congressional App Challenge.
Due to pandemic protocols, Congressman Suozzi held this annual awards ceremony virtually via Zoom. Dr. Bruce Stillman, President of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which has hosted the ceremony in the past, introduced Congressman Suozzi.
“In the midst of what seems like only negative news, there is good news to be shared. Long Island represents only 1% of the US population, but we have nearly 14% of the winners of this prestigious competition,” said Congressman Suozzi. “The 3rd Congressional District consistently produces some of the smartest students in America. We need to ensure that students like these can utilize their talents here at home as we strive to brand Long Island as the ‘495 Research Corridor on High-Tech Island.’ These scholars, who are primed to solve some of society’s most urgent challenges, are the future of our community and I am proud to honor their achievements.”
Of the 300 high school seniors from across the country that advanced in the first round of the annual Regeneron Science Talent Search, 41 of those students are from Long Island, and of those, a very impressive 26 come from the 3rd Congressional District.
Long Island has two students, both from Suozzi’s district, who have advanced and been named Regeneron finalists: Lucy Zha, of The Wheatley School in East Williston and Justin Shen, of Jericho High School. They are among the 40 finalists nationwide who will compete in March for the more than $1.8 million in awards provided by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals of Tarrytown, NY.
The students honored by Congressman Suozzi represent ten high schools in the 3rd Congressional District: Elwood-John Glenn High School, Great Neck South High School, Herricks High School, Jericho Senior High School, Kings Park High School, Manhasset High School, North Shore High School, Paul D. Schreiber High School, Syosset High School, and The Wheatley School.
Honorees included national scholars and finalists in the 2021 Regeneron Science Talent Search and the winner of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge, an annual competition sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives that encourages students to learn coding and to pursue careers in computer science.
Started in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. has funded the contest since 2016 and has doubled the annual prize money. While funding sources have changed over the years, the contest has been run continuously by the Society for Science, a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C.
