Kelly Zhang of Orinda is among 40 young innovators named a national finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search 2013 competition.
Zhang is a student at the College Preparatory School in Oakland. Zhang's research project is titled "Fluorescent Imaging for Nano-Detection (FIND) of Cancer Cells for Future Surgery."
The contest is a program of Society for Science & the Public and the nation's oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition. The Intel Science Talent Search finalists represent the nation's most promising high school seniors, Intel said in a press release.
Finalists will gather in Washington, D.C. in March to compete for $630,000 in awards with the top winner receiving $100,000 from the Intel Foundation, the release stated.
“I’m pleased to see a bright young student from Orinda selected by the Intel Science Talent Search this year,” stated Congressman George Miller (D-Martinez) in a news release. “Investing in programs that promote science and technology to our children is crucial to our economy, spurring innovation and creating good American jobs."
Four others from Bay Area
The other four Bay Area students named finalists are Poulomi Bhattacharya, of Cupertino, a student at The Harker School; Kevin Chen, of Fremont, a student at Mission San Jose High School; Sahana Vasudevan, of Palo Alto, a student at Gnyanam Academy and Saratoga's Jack Takahashi, a student at Lynbrook High School.
Finalists receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. from March 7-13. There, they will compete for $630,000 in awards provided by the Intel Foundation. Each finalist receives at least $7,500.
Winners will be selected based on rigorous judging sessions and announced at a black-tie gala awards ceremony at the National Building Museum on March 12. The top award is $100,000; the remaining top 10 winners will receive awards totaling $305,000, according to the release.
This story originated on Saratoga Patch.
