April 22nd, 2022 – Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and members of the Town Board honored four students from across the Town of Islip for their academic and athletic accomplishments during the April Town Board Meeting: Student Achievement Ceremony. Honorees included three Regeneron semi-finalists and a state-champion wrestler.

The Regeneron Competition, run by the Society for Science is the oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors in the Nation. This year, over 1,800 students applied to the competition and only 300 semi-finalists were chosen. Proudly, the Town of Islip had three semi-finalists, including one of whom made it to the competition finals.

Seniors at Brentwood High School Ross Center, twins Ricardo and Roberto Lopez, made history as the first set of twins selected for the semi-finals since the 1970s.

Ricardo’s project titled "Evaluating Salt Marsh Restoration at Sunken Meadow: Analysis of Sediment Loss and Accretion,” examined the differences between restored salt marshes and native salt marshes, finding that those restored lost soil or degraded more than the native marsh.

Roberto’s project "Evaluating Phragmites australis wrack accumulation in a Long Island salt marsh ecosystem and assessing its effect on carbon sequestration, the nitrogen cycle, and sediment biota," utilized drones to evaluate the marsh and find areas where the invasive plant species known as phragmites might live. When this species dies and sheds its leaves, it contributes to the death of native vegetation. His research led him to become a Regeneron Competition finalist.

Gene Weng, Senior at Sayville High School, was named a Regeneron semi-finalist for his project “Utilizing a Carbon Dioxide-Producing Reaction in a Low-Cost CO2 Vessel (LCCV) to Support the Growth of Mammalian Cells in Lieu of a Commercial CO2 Incubator.” His project studied the growth of mouse embryonic stem cells, and the important characteristics of stem cells and how these cells are able to differentiate. Through his project he sought to find a way to create a more affordable CO2 Incubator which is vital for the study of cell cultures and cost upwards of $5,000. The inexpensive nature of the LCCV would allow more people to carry out cell culture, especially high schoolers. Exposing high school students to hands-on science experiments will likely engage students and promote them to pursue science.

Lastly, the Town Board honored Max Gallagher, a junior at Bayport-Blue Point High School. Max won his first ever State Championship in Wrestling in the 126-pound weight class; and is the first Bayport-Blue Point High School Wrestler to win a state championship since 1985. During his junior year, Max completed a 36-0 season, and at 144 wins is only 6 wins shy of the Bayport-Blue Point record. Max totaled 67 points, 21 takedowns, 21 near fall points, one reversal, and two escapes; winning four straight matches during the championships.

“Achieving Regeneron finalist and semifinalist status, and winning a New York State championship wrestling title, demonstrates character, commitment and perseverance. Congratulations to these students on their achievements, and we wish them all the best,” said Supervisor, Angie Carpenter.