Pelham Memorial High School Senior Named Top 300 Scholar in Regeneron Science Talent Search

PELHAM, NY (January 23, 2026) — A Pelham Memorial High School senior has been recognized as one of the nation’s top young scientists for research examining potential language-based biases in cognitive testing.

Emily Walch, a senior at PMHS, was named a Top 300 Scholar in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition.

She was selected from more than 2,600 applicants in what organizers described as the competition’s most competitive year in decades.

Emily Walch’s Regeneron Science Talent Search project is titled “Testing a Domain-Specific Impact of English Language Cognitive Test Bias in Spanish Speakers in the United States.”

The research investigates whether patterns of cognitive test performance differ between English and Spanish speakers, even after matching participants on socio-economic and demographic variables. It analyzes a large dataset to control for other factors and assess differences based solely on test language, aiming to identify potential English language bias in cognitive assessments.

These tests help detect cognitive impairments, especially in aging populations and for neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. The project explores if tests developed primarily by and for English speakers may not be structurally equivalent when translated to other languages, potentially affecting diagnostic accuracy for Spanish speakers in the U.S.

“Emily exemplifies the curiosity, discipline, and intellectual courage we strive to cultivate,” said Science Research Director Steven Beltecas.

Additional details about Walch’s project and the national recognition are available on the Pelham Memorial High School website.

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.