Meet the 51 Inspiring CA Teens Who Won $2,000 Each in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search!

California is buzzing with excitement as the Society for Science has announced the top 300 scholars in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search. This event is the longest running and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors in the United States.

Among these talented scholars, 51 hail from California. Each will receive a $2,000 cash prize, and their respective schools will also benefit from a $2,000 award. Some schools boast multiple scholars!

Next Thursday, the competition will take a thrilling turn as the top 40 finalists are revealed. These finalists will advance to a week-long competition in Washington, D.C., competing for over $1.8 million in awards from March 6-12, 2025.

This year saw participation from nearly 2,500 students across 795 high schools, including not just the U.S. but also regions like American Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico, as well as students from 14 other countries. They qualified based on their impressive research, leadership, community service, and innovation in science.

Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science, expressed her excitement: “These exceptional young scientists represent the best in the nation. We are thrilled to celebrate their ingenuity and hard work.”

Having celebrated its 103rd year, the Regeneron Science Talent Search has a history of launching careers. Many past winners have gone on to receive prestigious awards like Nobel Prizes and National Medals for their contributions to science.

This year’s projects touch on a range of topics. From health to computer science, the scholars’ research showcases their commitment to solving real-world problems.

As Christina Chan from Regeneron noted, “These scholars demonstrate the extraordinary potential of nurtured STEM talent. We look forward to seeing how their discoveries will tackle global challenges.”

Let’s take a look at some of California’s bright minds:

• Logan Mars Brown: High Tech High North County, Project: Closed-Loop Electrochemical CNC Machining for Democratizing Metal Fabrication
• Sonya Chamberlain: Dublin High School, Project: Genetic Screening for Type 1 Diabetes
• Vrishank Chandrasekhar: Lynbrook High School, Project: Digital Biomarker for Cancer Prediction
• Trevor Chen: Westview School, Project: Ultra-Broadband High-Efficiency Gratings
• Victoria Fang: University High School, Project: AI-Backed Smart Sign Language Interpreter
• Sarah Rumei Gao: Canyon Crest Academy, Project: Sustainable Soil-AMending Hydrogels from Food Waste
• Aditi Nikhil Deshpande: Amador Valley High School, Project: Role of Proteins in Pancreatic Cancer
• Angelina Tseng: Santa Catalina School, Project: AI-Powered Magnetic Inspection Robot
• Elisa Zhang: Dougherty Valley High School, Project: Automated Program Repair Using AI

The creative projects reflect a passion for learning and discovery among these young scholars. As the competition progresses, we eagerly await their futures in the world of science and technology.