Ashley Granquist, a senior at West Hartford’s Hall High School, was chosen as one of the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2020.

Hall teacher Michael Wilkosz and senior Ashley Granquist. Courtesy photo

By Ronni Newton

Hall High School senior Ashley Granquist has been named a top scholar, and Michael Wilkosz has been named a Teacher of Merit in the most recent Regeneron Science Talent Search.

Granquist’s project, which she completed last summer, was entitled “Multi-Wavelength Identification of Black Hole Candidates in the M13 Globular Cluster.”

The top 300 scholars earn a $2,000 scholarship for themselves, as well as for their school.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search, according to its website, is the “nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.”

This year 1,993 applicants entered the competition. The applications came from 659 different high schools in 49 states as well as Washington, DC; Puerto Rico; and Guam; and eight other countries.

Scholars, whose submitted projects included original research on subjects with global significance in the medical, environmental, and health arenas, were chosen based on criteria that included demonstrated research skills, commitment to academics,  innovative thinking, and their “promise as scientists.”

Regeneron has also named Michael Wilkosz, who teaches Technology, Engineering, and Computer Science at Hall, a Teacher of Merit.