How the Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists spend their free time

Congratulations to the top 40 finalists in this year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search! When these high school seniors aren’t pushing boundaries in the world of STEM, they are climbing to new heights in volunteering, athletics, entrepreneurship, the arts and more. Read on to hear just a few of the incredible activities these finalists fill their days with.

In the sphere of community involvement and volunteering, this year’s finalists can be found:

• Serving as Youth Commissioner, appointed by the mayor of her city.
• Volunteering with a program that aims to help children with disabilities swim and feel comfortable in the water.
• Organizing a fully funded STEM camp as well as a tutoring network with over 80 tutors who help underserved students with STEM and standardized test prep.
• Serving as the student manager of a free community healthcare clinic.

When it comes to academics beyond the realm of STEM, this group of finalists is taking it to a new level by:

• Researching and authoring three history papers submitted for publication to academic journals.
• Becoming a top-rated national debater who has increased his club’s membership by tenfold.

This group of finalists is innovating outside of the lab with entrepreneurial pursuits which include:

• A fashion brand inspired by the heritage and history of Formula One which donates all profits to a STEM education nonprofit.
• An AI-powered platform that streamlines workflows for scientific research in both industrial and academic settings.
• A TikTok platform dedicated to fashion which has amassed millions of views and several brand collaborations.

When it comes to athletic and artistic pursuits, the 2024 top 40 finalists enrich their lives through:

• Writing, recording and producing music, including an album which received over 150,000 streams in its first month.
• SCUBA diving to look for underwater life and shipwrecks.
• Competing as a nationally ranked fencer.
• Training in the most demanding form of ballet, the Vaganova technique.

Next week, the 40 finalists will come to Washington, D.C., competing for over $1.8 million in awards. They will engage in thrilling scientific events and opportunities across the city. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winners on March 12, 2024.

Keen to follow their journey or aspire to be an STS finalist yourself? Sign up here for program updates and be on the lookout for the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search application, set to arrive on June 1, 2024.