OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 14, 2019) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister today praised two Oklahoma students for being named as finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.

William Wang, of the Oklahoma School of Science & Mathematics in Oklahoma City, and Braden Milford, of Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, were among 40 national finalists, an honor that comes with a $25,000 award. The students could receive up to $250,000 if they place in the top 10 in the competition.

“I am extremely proud of William and Braden. They represent the next generation of brilliant innovators and scientific leaders in Oklahoma,” Hofmeister said. “Providing an exemplary education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is essential to enabling young people to pursue life-transforming solutions that can change the world.”

Finalists were selected based on their projects’ scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientists. Wang's research focused on refining specific types of nanospheres and nanosheets to be used in LED lights. The nanomaterials he worked with can convert one high-energy photon into two lower-energy photons. Milford’s project involved identifying and using a combination of algae and microbes to remove heavy metal pollution from the environment.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search has been a program of Society for Science & the Public since 1942. For more information, visit https://student.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts.