Two talented students from Iona Prep recently received division awards at the 2024 Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair. Senior Aydan Gerber and junior Mateo Del Rio Lanse showcased their exceptional work at the competition, which took place on March 16th at Somers High School. Over 700 high school students from Westchester, Putnam, and Sullivan Counties participated in the event.
At the fair, Gerber and Del Rio Lanse both earned division awards for their outstanding projects. Gerber’s work focused on developing an algorithm using Python to analyze keyword frequency and identify significant topics of discussion under the #sustainability hashtag on Twitter. His results were published by Cambridge University Press in February. On the other hand, Del Rio Lanse worked on improving machine-learning rates by developing three convolutional neural networks that can screen for tumors in brain scans.
The Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair aims to encourage students to engage in hands-on science and research. By providing a platform for high school students in Westchester, Putnam, and Sullivan Counties to showcase their work, the fair helps promote innovation and academic excellence. The top 20 projects from the competition will advance to the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair, where students will have the opportunity to present their research on a global stage.