North Shore High School students shine among top 300 Regeneron scholars

This is something for the whole department to celebrate.”

Chris Zublionis, Superintendent, North Shore School District

North Shore High School seniors Claire Tao and Michelle Yu have been named two of the 300 Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars by the Society for Science, beating out thousands of students across the country.

This remarkable achievement comes from one of the oldest and most prestigious science competitions for high school students in the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and 10 other countries, while showcasing the talent and dedication of students as well as their teachers in the district.

Chris Zublionis, superintendent of the North Shore School District, described the award as “akin to All States in music or sports,” emphasizing the unique status of being named a scholar in the world of science research. He added that he and the entire science department staff were immensely proud of Yu and Tao, and that this highlighted the school’s remarkably strong science program.

“This is something for the whole department to celebrate,” Zublionis said. “It’s the culmination of science learning that they’ve had, and our goal is to always give our kids more opportunities for research.”

The superintendent explained that the talent search is an international competition where students submit their research, highlighting the stringent merit-based selection process. He added that the high school is focused on improving research opportunities for its students, and the district is also considering extending these programs to the middle school as well.

Zublionis added that students in the top 300 also receive $2,000 for their awards, with another $2,000 going to their high school. He clarified that these funds are earmarked for the district’s scientific research program, ensuring a continued commitment to fostering a culture of exploration and innovation.

Michelle Yu

Yu, a 17-year-old bound for Cornell University’s School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, stumbled upon the Regeneron scholarships during her routine senior year at North Shore. Little did she know that her journey would transcend the ordinary.

Her research project, titled “Salvia hispanica L. Ameliorates the Effects of Alzheimer’s Disease in Drosophila melanogaster,” explored the impact of chia seeds on Alzheimer’s in fruit flies. Motivated by her grandfather’s experience with dementia, Michelle sought a personal connection to a disease she aimed to understand better.

Teaming up with Dr. Theodore Brummel at Long Island University, Michelle spent weeks refining her techniques in the lab. The study uncovered significant improvements in neuromuscular fitness in fruit flies through the incorporation of chia oil.

The news of being named in the top 300 Regeneron scholars left Michelle shocked and amazed. Her father, Teddy, initially mistook the email for an advertisement but soon realized the magnitude of Michelle’s achievement, filling him with pride.

“It’s really prestigious, and I was really shocked to know she made it to the top 300 nationwide, which is such a huge accomplishment for her,” her father continued. “We know that she put a lot of time into her research, but we didn’t know she would really make it into the top 300.”

Yu was shocked and proud as well.

“I was very surprised because there’s so many amazing applicants out there and they do more of a holistic review,” Yu said. “So I definitely was not expecting anything but it was definitely a really good feeling of happiness when I found out.

Claire Tao

Tao, a 17-year-old senior from Roslyn Harbor, has not decided what school she will be attending next year, but said that she hopes to study Cell and Development Biology. Introduced to the Regeneron scholarships through the high school, Tao said she was excited by the opportunity.

Her research, titled “TIGIT is Highly Expressed Across Various Types of Immunosuppressive Myeloid Cells Induced by Glioblastoma Extracellular Vesicles,” delved into the complexities of glioblastoma, a formidable brain cancer known for evading the immune system. Motivated by personal experiences with several family members diagnosed with different cancers, Tao sought to make a meaningful contribution to understanding and potentially treating the lethal disease.

Navigating the challenges of researching a complex topic with limited prior knowledge, Tao said she spent hours delving into articles before entering a lab in the Bronx. Her research aimed to identify common markers among diverse glioblastoma-influenced cells, a crucial step toward developing targeted therapies.

In her experimentation, Tao discovered unexpected results, notably a common marker and an additional marker, presenting a significant breakthrough in comparison to previous studies.

When awaiting news on the Regeneron scholarships, Tao added that she felt a mix of anxiety and hope, acknowledging the fierce competition, but was incredibly excited when she found out she had made the top 300. Her mother Lili Ren said that her family was incredibly proud of her, and credited her daughter’s success to Tao’s intellectual independence.

“We’re so proud of her you know, she’s great,” Ren continued. “She’s all the way independent, from day one of school until now.”

Tao knew she had a shot at being one of the top 300, but wasn’t over confident.

“I felt like I had a chance, but also in the same vein there’s so many amazing people out there that you really never know,” Tao said. “But once I made it I was so happy and so surprised because I really didn’t entertain the hope that I was really going to make it this far.”