京东影业影视传媒

Being a Regeneron Science Talent Search finalist is about more than being an accomplished researcher and exceptionally well-rounded high school senior. It also means being part of a unique community built on tight-knit bonds that can last a lifetime.

The seeds of those lasting connections are planted every spring, when all forty finalists converge in Washington, D.C. for an action-packed finals week. They have the chance to meet scientific leaders, present their work to the public and, perhaps most importantly, make unforgettable memories with one another.

Here are some of those memorable moments of bonding, as told by the 2026 finalists.

鈥淚 recall bonding over panel judging. We would bond over the pressure and the judges鈥� questions. Once judging was finally over on Saturday night, there was an air of relief and celebration that felt particularly genuine and heartwarming. For a competition, it was intensely open and collaborative.鈥� 鈥� Edward Kang

鈥淒uring the monuments tour, my friends and I synced up some music for a few hours. As we explored D.C. together, I felt an invisible connection between the four of us, as if our shared music was bringing us all closer together. We started talking later that night, and in this way, I found STS to be a starting point for what may end up being lifelong friendships.鈥� 鈥� Siddharth Pasari

鈥淭he best bonding moment during STS week was blackjack. Let’s face it, we’re all competitive. True personality comes out when you’re in fun competition with others, so this helped us bond a lot. A huge thank you to all the blackjack dealers who gave their time to teach us how to play!鈥� 鈥� Kaya Parikh

After enjoying a fireside chat with Dr. Edward Thorp (STS 1949), who is notable in part for using mathematical insights to develop a system to 鈥�鈥� in blackjack, the finalists tried their hands in a blackjack tournament of their own.

鈥淪inging karaoke in the lounge was one of my favorite informal moments during STS week. Our group was made up of incredible singers and amateurs, but somehow, we all sounded very good together, forming a harmony none of us expected.鈥� 鈥� Uma Sthanu

鈥淗anging out in the finalist lounge was a highlight of my STS experience. In particular, I really enjoyed playing with fellow finalists, as it was a great way to unwind after an intense day. Ironically, some of my closest STS friends were made while in the midst of Cambio rivalries.鈥� 鈥� Leon Wang

鈥淢y favorite memory was sitting backstage at the and distracting each other from the nerves and stress. It was a really special moment because I knew that everyone was truly supporting each other.鈥� 鈥� Natalie Muro

鈥淢y favorite bonding moment during STS week was probably the final night. We had a dance party with all the finalists after the awards gala, and we all danced and sang the night away. It felt so freeing to be with the group of friends I had made over the past week, and I cherished the last night that we would spend together in the near future.鈥� 鈥� Vallabh Ramesh

All in all, Claire Jiang may have summarized the week best, saying:

鈥淲hat surprised me most about the connections I’ve formed here is how quickly they’ve begun to feel lasting. It鈥檚 exciting to realize that many of us may end up at the same universities or cross paths again throughout our careers. Being surrounded by so many curious and driven peers puts things into perspective and reminds me that the future of science is something we will shape together.鈥�