Spring Valley High School student Ava Phelps is among the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competitions for high school seniors. Phelps is in the Discovery Magnet program at Spring Valley. The title of her project is “Relationship Between Root-Zone Soil Moisture and Proportion of E. solidaginis Galls Attacked by Parasitic Insects in South Carolina Level III Ecoregions.” Phelps wrote in her research paper, “As the world is becoming increasingly urban, understanding how humanity impacts various ecosystems is extremely relevant.”
The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 2,162 applications received from 712 high schools across 46 states, Puerto Rico, and 10 other countries. According to the Society for Science, which owns and produces the competition, this marks the largest number of entrants in five decades. Alumni of this competition have reportedly been honored with 13 Nobel Prizes, 11 National Medals of Science, six Breakthrough Prizes, 21 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, and two Fields Medals.
Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking, and promise as scientists as demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays, and recommendations. Phelps and Spring Valley will be awarded $2,000 each.
Phelps is one of only two students in South Carolina to be recognized by Regeneron for their research. She is also one of 11 students in Richland Two, 16,000 students nationally, competing for National Merit Scholarships in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
