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SHREVEPORT, La. – A Caddo Magnet High School senior is among 300 selected to advance in a national science talent search.
Maya Trutschl’s application was one of some 2,600 entered by students from 826 high schools across 46 states to be selected to advance in the Regeneron Science Talent Search.
“So a big part of it was my science research project, which was preventing pressure injuries or bedsores,” said Trutschl.
She says her grandmother’s stay in the hospital inspired her research, “and so I found out, actually, that a lot of people think that pressure injuries are caused because nurses aren’t giving enough care to the patients. But that’s actually not true.”
The competition is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.
“The way we look at these applications is the integrity of the research project, how innovative and creative it is. But we also look at who they are. What is their potential for scientific leadership?” said Maya Ajmera, Regeneron’s president and CEO.
Each scholar, selected from over 2,600 entrants, receives a $2,000 award with an additional $2,000 going to their respective school. In this case, it will go to MIT, where Trutschl has already been accepted and plans to study Aerospace Engineering.
She says her acceptance to MIT is a fulfillment of her parents’ dream.
Trutschl and the other select scholars now hope to be named as one of 40 finalists later this month. The 40 finalists chosen to compete in March will be announced on Jan. 21.
“We have to continue to invest in the next generation of talent because they’re the ones who are going to be making the discoveries,” said Ajmera.
The winner will receive a $250,000 scholarship.
