Somers students shine at WESEF

SOMERS, N.Y. - Students in Somers High School’s Science Research program delivered an exceptional performance at this year’s Regeneron–Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF), earning top awards, national recognition, and multiple invitations to prestigious international competitions.

The annual event, now in its 25th year, is the largest regional high school science fair in the country, featuring more than 800 students from over 40 high schools across Westchester and Putnam counties. Participants present advanced, independent STEM research projects to panels of expert judges, competing for awards and the opportunity to advance to global competitions.

By percentage, Somers was the most successful, with an impressive 81 percent of its students earning either a special award or a placement in their category—well above the fair’s overall recognition rate.

A total of 13 Somers students received special awards for their research, including Akosua Adobea-Wiredu, Regina Ayoubi, Caleb Carpenter, Lauren Castillo, Eli Clavines, Molly Cutler, Makaila Eagleton, Brady Janec, Anya Khurana, Lenny Novichenko, Aurora Riley, Connor Sheldon, and Smera Thekkenmar.

Several students also placed in their respective categories. Sierra Deodhari, Jimmy Gallivan, and Aidan Kimmel each earned fourth-place finishes, while Anna Huber took third place. Scotty Evans and Isabella Wissa secured second-place honors, and Evan Aronoff, Regina Ayoubi, Makaila Eagleton, and Rachel Lantz captured first place in their categories.

The highest distinction of the competition - the grand prize and advancement to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair - was awarded to just 20 students out of approximately 850 participants. Two of those students were from Somers: Makaila Eagleton and Evan Aronoff.

The pair will travel to Phoenix this May to compete against nearly 2,000 students representing more than 80 countries, regions, and territories, with over $9 million in awards, prizes, and scholarships at stake.

In addition to their WESEF success, Somers students also made history with their performance in qualifying for the International GENIUS Olympiad. Seventeen students from the program were selected to compete at the international event, which will be held in June at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York.

This marks the largest group of Somers students ever accepted to the competition. The program achieved a 61 percent acceptance rate - more than double the competition’s average of 26 percent. Students selected include Evan Aronoff, Jimmy Gallivan, Caleb Carpenter, Lenny Novichenko, Scotty Evans, Rachel Lantz, Smera Thekkenmar, Isabella Wissa, Akosua Adobea-Wiredu, Anna Huber, Molly Cutler, Anya Khurana, Connor Sheldon, Regina Ayoubi, Brady Janec, Makaila Eagleton, and Claire Higgins.

WESEF continues to serve as a premier platform for student researchers, with projects spanning life sciences, engineering, environmental science, psychology, and more. The event is supported by major sponsors including Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Con Edison, along with numerous community partners, contributing nearly $200,000 in funding and allowing recognition for roughly 60 percent of participants.

For Somers, however, this year’s results went far beyond that benchmark - highlighting both the strength of its Science Research program and the dedication of its student scientists.