Hopewell Valley Central High School senior*, Sonja Michaluk, has been named a top 40 finalist in the 79th Regeneron Science Talent Search, for her project entitled, “A Novel Method of Monitoring the Health of our Global Fresh Water Supply using DNA Barcoding of Chironomidae (Diptera).”
The Regeneron Science Talent Search, hosted by the Society for Science & the Public, is nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and mathematics competition for high school seniors. The 2020 finalists were selected from 1,993 highly qualified entrants based on their projects’ scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientists and leaders, according to the Society for Science and the Public website.
Michaluk was recently named a top 300 scholar, and now as a finalist, will travel to Washington, D.C. in March to participate in the Finals Week. Finalists are each awarded at least $25,000.
Michaluk joins the ranks of 13 Nobel prize winners, 21 MacArthur Foundation Fellows, and many other distinguished alumni of the Science Talent Search. This honor identifies Sonja Michaluk as one of the nation’s most promising young scientists or mathematicians.
“Sonja is a gifted student who has a remarkable passion for the environment,” shared Hopewell Valley Central High School teacher, Karen Lucci. “Her research in ecology is truly exceptional and, more importantly, she continues to share what she has learned so that others can develop an appreciation of nature and how we all impact the natural world around us.”
Superintendent Thomas Smith added, “We are proud that Sonja is our first ever Regeneron finalist. She is an exceptional student and scientist who is driven to make an impact on the world we live in.”
*Edited on 1/28/2020 to reflect correct school year.
