Olympia High School senior ranks 7th in nationwide science search

Kevin Shen, an 18-year-old senior from Olympia High School (OHS), placed seventh out of 40 finalists in the nationwide 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search. 

Shen’s placement in one of the nation’s most prestigious science and math competitions earned him a $70,000 award. 

“This award has been won by Nobel Prize winners, National Medal of Science recipients, (and) MacArthur Fellows … Kevin's doing great things now, and I can only imagine what he's going to do in the future,” said Superintendent Patrick Murphy at the OSD Board of Directors meeting on March 13. 

Shen won big with his aerospace engineering study entitled, “Taming the Oblique Wing: Improving Fuel Efficiency by Developing and Flight Testing an Oblique Wing Aircraft Utilizing a Novel Control Method.” 

Shen programmed a flight computer to control an oblique-wing model airplane, which Shen designed and built using 3D-printed parts.  

“Decades ago, engineers discovered that setting a plane’s wings at an oblique angle to its body lowers its overall drag, making flight more efficient. However, oblique-wing aircraft are harder to control, limiting their progress,” the Society for Science’s website states. 

According to the site, Shen’s aircraft used 9.2% less fuel than a similar aircraft with a regular wing design. 

The search finalists were honored at a March 11 ceremony at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. 

Earlier in January, Shen was announced to be one of the Top 300 scholars of the search. Following Shen’s win, OHS became a scholar school and received $2,000 to support math and science programs. 

This year, Regeneron awarded around $3.1 million in prizes for the students' excellent research, exceptional problem-solving skills, and potential to shape the future of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

“We are incredibly proud of Kevin for pushing the boundaries of discovery and innovation!” the OSD said in a web post. 

Shen’s bio and project page are available at this link. 

Kevin Shen, as seen with other students in this undated photo. 

Courtesy of Olympia School District Communications Assistant Maria Betts 

Achievements 

Shen recently became a nominee for the National Merit Presidential Scholars Program, OSD Communications Assistant Maria Betts stated in an email to The JOLT News. 

Considered one of the nation's highest honors for high school students, the Presidential Scholars Program began in 1964 and awards up to 161 students annually.  

Sharing his passion for flight, Shen also founded and is leading the Olympia Aerospace Club.  

Shen also played in Washington State’s 2023–24 4A tennis tournament, as part of the varsity tennis team.