Fast Facts About the 2026 Regeneron STS Top 300 Scholars
The 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search top 300 scholars are the nation’s most accomplished young scientists, mathematicians and engineers. Selected from over 2,600 applicants, they represent 203 American and international high schools in 34 states, Washington, D.C. and China.
The breadth of these stellar scholars’ origins is matched only by their wide-ranging interests. Beyond their STEM achievements, their pursuits range from the singularly exceptional to the slightly esoteric. The 2026 scholars include:
- A nationally ranked ballroom dancer
- A professional voice actor
- An ornithological journal editor who describes himself as “very much a bird person”
- A competitive typist (whose personal record is 208 words per minute)
- A video game designer who has developed over 10 indie games
- A Team USA Junior Olympic fencer
- An opera singer who has performed at Carnegie Hall
- A chess player who likes to play blindfolded
- An entrepreneur who started a clay jewelry business
- The youngest internationally certified tennis coach
Despite these diverse talents, some common threads unite these multitalented scholars. The charts below show a few of their collective interests.
Of 19 different categories, cellular and molecular biology leads the way, accounting for 12% of scholars’ projects.
Have hypothesis, will travel (or stay home): Scholars conducted their research in a variety of different environments.
¡Qué impresionante! A notably multilingual bunch, the scholars speak 42 different languages, with Spanish leading the way!
Particularly service-oriented, volunteer work is the scholars’ most popular extracurricular activity.
Stay tuned for the Regeneron STS top 40 finalists announcement on January 21 at noon E.T.!
