Board recognizes two student researchers: Regeneron scholar and National STEM Festival champion

The Harrison Central School District on Feb. 12 recognized two students for national science and STEM honors.

Reese Potash, a senior in the district’s science research program, was named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar this year, placing among the top 300 students nationally and winning $2,000 for herself and for the school. Potash, who also announced an early-decision commitment to Duke University, told the board her research examined whether school engagement can interrupt the pathway from adverse childhood experiences to juvenile offending. “It really matters whether or not you actually care about the work you're completing,” she said of the study’s findings on school attachment.

The board also honored Chase Endy, who was selected as a National STEM Festival STEM champion and will attend a weeklong program in Washington, D.C. Chase described a computational project that generates drug molecules with higher predicted binding affinity than natural ligands. “What I found was that my program always generated drug molecules with higher binding affinity for a target receptor than that receptor's natural ligand,” he told the board, and said the work could reduce wet-lab screening and speed drug-discovery steps.

Mary Blount, a Harrison High School biology teacher who works with the science research program, introduced the students and noted the program’s growth. Superintendent Dr. Woll and other board members praised the students’ research and national recognition.

Why this matters: The honors highlight student achievement and the district’s science research offerings; the Regeneron and National STEM Festival recognitions include monetary and experiential awards that the students and program can leverage for future research and college opportunities.