Nederland High Senior Secures Prestigious Science Scholarship: Inspiring Future Scientists

Sara Sandstrom

In Nederland, Keahi Pelkum Donahue, a high school student, embarked on a unique scientific project after his freshman year. Unlike typical school assignments, he collaborated with a scientist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

By his junior year, Keahi’s project, titled “Forecasting solar flares with a transformer network,” was complete. It was peer-reviewed and published in the journal Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences. You can check out his research here.

But why focus on solar flares? Keahi explains that these intense bursts of light from the sun can have serious effects. They can cause satellites to malfunction, risk the safety of astronauts, and disrupt communication systems. Better prediction of solar flares could help avoid these problems and deepen our understanding of these phenomena.

Thanks to his research, Keahi gained recognition. He presented his findings at the American Geophysical Union Conference in San Francisco in 2023 and will do so again in Washington, DC, in 2024. He was selected from many applicants to receive funding for his presentation at the first conference.

Recently, Keahi was named a 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search scholar. This is a prestigious competition for high school seniors across the U.S. The award recognizes outstanding research, leadership, and community involvement.

As a scholar, Keahi received a $2,000 scholarship for himself and another $2,000 for his school. He plans to work with his school’s science department to determine how to use the school’s funds effectively.

Keahi is just getting started. He’s currently diving into a new research project about solar wind. He says, “I am studying how information flows in the solar wind, a constant stream of particles from the sun.” Understanding this can help with future satellite missions.

In the fall of 2025, he will take his passion for science and his skills as a cellist to Princeton University, where he plans to study plasma physics. He dreams of using his knowledge to tackle the climate crisis and contribute to nuclear fusion research, an energy solution that could be incredibly efficient.

Keahi’s journey illustrates the talent and ambition found in small towns. Inspired by those around him, he is now an inspiration to many.