Dr. Michela Ombelli, a science teacher at Los Alamos High School, has recently been recognized with a 2024 Teacher of Merit Certificate by the Regeneron Science Talent Search. This prestigious award is granted by the 83-year-old science research competition to honor educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching and inspire their students to pursue scientific inquiry.
One of the students recognized in the 2024 Regeneron STS was senior Daniel Kim, who was named one of the top 300 scholars for his project titled “Engineered Underwater Vehicle for Ocean Litter Mapping”. Dr. Ombelli has been instrumental in supporting and guiding students like Daniel to excel in their scientific endeavors.
Dr. Ombelli’s journey at Los Alamos Public Schools began in 2016 as a substitute teacher, and she has been teaching at Los Alamos High School since 2018. Currently, she teaches courses like AP Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, and Chemistry, where she continues to inspire students to engage with science and engineering and to pursue their passion for research and discovery. This recognition is a testament to Dr. Ombelli’s dedication and commitment to fostering a culture of learning and inquiry among her students.
The Regeneron Science Talent Search serves as a platform to highlight the importance of science and engineering in shaping the future of our nation. Through her teaching and mentorship, Dr. Ombelli has contributed significantly to nurturing the next generation of scientists and researchers, and her impact on the students at Los Alamos High School is undeniable.
Dr. Michela Ombelli expressed her gratitude for the recognition from Regeneron Science Talent Search stating that it’s an honor to be recognized for her work as an educator.
She highlighted that Los Alamos High School was one of the schools that had a Regeneron STS scholar this year.
Dr. Ombelli’s journey at Los Alamos Public Schools began in 2016 as a substitute teacher, where she taught several subjects before becoming a full-time teacher at Los Alamos High School in 2018.
Currently, she teaches courses like AP Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, and Chemistry where she inspires students with her passion for science and engineering.
This recognition serves as proof that Dr. Ombelli’s hard work has paid off after all these years working tirelessly towards creating an environment where students are encouraged to pursue their interests in science.