COLUMBUS, OH (May 16, 2025) —
Cory Seelenfreund, a 17-year-old student at New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, New York, earned the prestigious $10,000 Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication and a $6,000 First Award in the Mathematics category at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2025, held in Columbus, Ohio, from May 10-16.
Scarlett Ava Hartzman, also a student at New Rochelle High School is a recipient of the New American University ISEF Scholarship for her project, “Traversing Mars: The Noctis Landing Human Exploration Zone,”
The world’s largest pre-college STEM competition, celebrating its 75th anniversary, awarded nearly $9 million in prizes to nearly 1,700 young scientists from over 60 countries.
Cory Seelenfreund
Seelenfreund’s project, focused on the relevance of memory in the Prisoner’s Dilemma—a classic game theory problem where two individuals decide whether to cooperate or betray each other—stood out for its innovative approach. He created computer simulations and mathematical models to explore how selfishness and memory impact outcomes in the game. His findings revealed that memory of a single game improved results, while players with better memory excelled in complex scenarios. The best outcomes occurred when players balanced self-interested and altruistic behaviors. “These findings can help design smarter AI bots and other programs that need to ‘get along’ with humans,” Seelenfreund said, as noted in the ISEF media release.
The Special Awards Ceremony on May 15 recognized Seelenfreund’s ability to communicate complex scientific concepts effectively, earning him the Peggy Scripps Award. The Grand Awards Ceremony on May 16 honored his mathematical rigor with the First Award in the Mathematics category, one of 22 categories judged at ISEF. Each First Award winner received $6,000, celebrating their creativity and scientific excellence.
A student at New Rochelle High School, Seelenfreund competed among nearly 1,700 finalists who qualified through local, regional, and national science fairs. His project not only showcased his analytical skills but also highlighted New Rochelle’s growing reputation for nurturing young talent in STEM.
Seelenfreund’s awards add to the legacy of Regeneron ISEF, which has been a platform for young scientists since 1950. The competition, supported by sponsors like Regeneron, Siemens Energy, and Microsoft, fosters global collaboration and innovation. Seelenfreund’s success underscores the event’s mission to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.
Scarlett Ava Hartzman
Arizona State University has named Scarlett Ava Hartzman, a student from New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, New York, as a recipient of the New American University ISEF Scholarship, valued at up to $32,000.
The renewable four-year scholarship recognizes her project, “Traversing Mars: The Noctis Landing Human Exploration Zone,” presented at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
The scholarship, offered by Arizona State University, combines a monetary award with an environment focused on knowledge, learning, and research. It is available to both individuals and teams demonstrating exceptional scientific inquiry.
Hartzman’s project explores human exploration strategies for Mars, specifically targeting the Noctis Landing zone. Her work stood out among entries evaluated for the prestigious award.
Arizona State University’s ISEF Scholarship aims to support innovative students pursuing academic and research excellence. The university encourages recipients to engage in its dynamic learning community over the course of their studies.
Other top award recipients at Regeneron ISEF 2025 included:
• Adam Kovalčík, Slovakia, $100,000 George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award
• Benjamin Davis, United States, $75,000 Regeneron Young Scientist Award
• Siyaa Poddar, United States, $75,000 Regeneron Young Scientist Award
• Samuel Skotnikov, United States, $50,000 Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations
• Chanyoung Kim, United States, $50,000 Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations
• Eeshaan Prashanth, United States, $50,000 Gordon E. Moore Award for Positive Outcomes for Future Generations
• XinYan Chen, United States, $10,000 Craig R. Barrett Award for Innovation
• Aleksandra Petkova, Bulgaria, $10,000 H. Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research
• Uma Sthanu, United States, $10,000 Mary Sue Coleman Award for Life Science Innovation & Impact
• Pragathi Kasani-Akula, United States, Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award
• Aarushi Pandey, United States, Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award
• Vrishank Chandrasekhar, United States, Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS Award
• Ethan Yan, United States, EU Contest for Young Scientists Award
• Abigail Qi, United States, EU Contest for Young Scientists Award
Details here.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.