Isabella Juliano - Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - LRHS senior Addison Shea was awarded 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Scholar, for her hard work and talent. Only 300 high school seniors were named scholars in the STS, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math research competition for high school seniors.
Shea said, “In all honesty, I was absolutely over the moon when I found out. All my hard work had paid off, and I felt (and continue to feel) so honored to be named a scholar.”
The 300 scholars hail from 200 American and international high schools and homeschools in 33 states, Washington D.C., Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Switzerland.
Students participating in STS are given the chance to research and explore any STEM topic of their choosing. They then assemble this into a presentation that is submitted for review by the board.
Shea’s project title was “Bowhead Whale Migration Amid Changing Circulation Patterns in the Beaufort Gyre.”
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Shea elaborated on the importance of this topic, “it is known that the arctic is the fastest warming biome on Earth, and that could be causing these circulation changes in the gyre. It is important to acknowledge how our ecosystems are changing. If we can understand these impacts, perhaps we can help to mitigate and/or adapt to the changes.”
She received a $2,000 award from Regeneron with an additional $2,000 going to LRHS to support STEM-related activities. The competition overall awarded $3.1 million to provide the opportunities and resources that students need to become the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs, and STEM leaders.
Shea’s advice for students who are passionate about science is, “Stay curious! Also, I would definitely recommend joining the AP Capstone program at LRHS. This program (and its fabulous teachers!) helps you to develop your research skills and to explore topics that interest you.”
Mustangs interested in this opportunity can sign up here to learn more about STS and receive a notification when the 2026 application opens in June.