St. Francis Prep Senior Earns Distinction Among Nation’s Science Students

by Katie Vasquez

Science has always been Juan Valeciana’s favorite subject.

“I enjoy doing this and just finding something new, something that’s never been done before,” said Valenciana, a senior at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens.

The senior transferred to St Francis Prep from a public school for a higher quality education.

“It lacked a lot of opportunities. and I came to St Francis Prep because of all the opportunities,” said Valenciana.

One of those opportunities included applying for the Regeneron Science Talent search, the country’s longest running and most distinguished STEM competition for high school seniors.

“It’s really known as the Junior Nobel prize,” said Fran Jimenez, the associate director of science research at St. Francis Prep.

The Queens student picked Alzheimer’s research for his project, spending more than a year studying data sets and submitting his findings.

“Amyloid beta is the hallmark for Alzheimer’s disease, and that’s one of the things that I look into,” said Valenciana.

For him this assignment wasn’t random, Juan’s paternal grandfather, Alberto, suffers from the disease.

“When I first started talking to him, it was like normal family topics,” said Valenciana, “and then the next day he’s talking about the exact same topics. It’s almost like he’s not forming any new memories.”

Now, he’s on a path to study Alzheimer’s.

“I wanted to develop some solutions, maybe help them eventually one day,” he told Currents News.

The St. Francis Prep senior didn’t make it to the final round but he still beat out 2,500 students from across the US.

“This year, we are the only Catholic school in all of New York City to have one. The only school in all of Queens, including public, to have one of these prestigious scholars,” said Jimenez.

Now Valenciana wants to continue his research, hoping one day there will eventually be a cure.

“It really decreases the quality of life for both people that have Alzheimer’s and people that have to take care of people that have Alzheimer’s,” he explained.

Valenciana will graduate this year, he hopes to study biomedical or mechanical engineering at his top choice college, Georgia Tech.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 2/4/2025

Businesses across the U.S. shuttered for a “Day Without Immigrants,” highlighting their impact as bishops urged President Trump to pursue just, bipartisan immigration reform.

The Vatican hosted its first-ever international summit on children’s rights. Pope Francis and global advocates addressed crises facing millions of children and signed a declaration outlining eight key principles for their protection and care.

Pope Francis announced plans to write an apostolic exhortation dedicated to children, aiming to reinforce his commitment to their rights and well-being.

Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated the Chinese New Year with a diocesan Mass at St. Michael’s Parish, embracing cultural traditions like red envelopes, symbolic offerings, and a shared festive meal to celebrate reunion and prosperity.

Bishop Brennan Celebrates Lunar New Year with Traditional Chinese Ceremony at St. Michael’s Church

On Feb. 2, Catholic and cultural traditions combined during a Lunar New Year celebration. Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan handed out those iconic red envelopes at a Mass at St. Michael’s Church in Flushing. The liturgy was steeped in Chinese tradition, including an “ancestors veneration ceremony,” where the parish gave thanks to God and their ancestors. After the Mass, Bishop Brennan joined the parish for a reception that included traditional food and some performances.

Bishops Condemn Immigration Crackdown as ‘Day Without Immigrants’ Shuts Businesses Nationwide

It was a slow Monday in dozens of cities around the country as businesses closed for a “Day Without Immigrants.”

The nationwide demonstration is meant to give a glimpse into what life without the new arrivals would be like as mass ICE arrests continue.

According to recent estimates, roughly 8.3 million undocumented immigrants work in the U.S. Bishops throughout the country have been speaking out against Trump’s immigration plans.

Bishop Mark Seitz, who leads the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, said in a recent statement: “We urge President Trump to pivot from these enforcement-only policies to just and merciful solutions, working in good faith with members of Congress to achieve meaningful, bipartisan immigration reform that furthers the common good with an effective, orderly immigration system.”

To read more about the bishops’ response to recent migration policies, just go online to TheTablet.org.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 2/3/2025

As recovery efforts continue in the Potomac River after the deadly midair collision of an Army helicopter and passenger jet, an artist is honoring the victims by installing crosses near the scene of the tragic crash.

More than 100 religions from the Diocese of Brooklyn came together to celebrate the World Day of Consecrated Life.

St. Patrick’s Day is next month, but parishioners in Downtown Brooklyn are already honoring St. Brigid, the patroness of Ireland.

Diocese of Brooklyn Honors St. Brigid with First-Ever Feast Day Celebration

We’re a little over a month away from St. Patrick’s Day, but over the weekend, the Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated the patroness of Ireland. Bagpipers led the way as hundreds packed the pews of the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Downtown Brooklyn for the first-ever diocese-wide celebration of the Feast Day of St. Brigid! Among the other cultural elements included in the Mass, celebrated by Bishop Brennan, were Irish step dancers and a performance of the song St. Brigid of Ireland.

Brooklyn and Queens Youth Gather for Pro-Life Day of Service at Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Young people from across Brooklyn and Queens celebrated life on Saturday, holding a day of service to help moms in need. The kids came together for the Pro-Life Youth Day at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, where they filled up goody bags for new mothers that included onesies, baby blankets, and other essentials, plus greeting cards made personally by the kids! They also held a candle ceremony to pray for mothers everywhere.

Bishop Brennan Leads Celebration of World Day of Consecrated Life at St. Thomas More Church

More than 100 religious from around the Diocese of Brooklyn came together on Sunday to celebrate the World Day of Consecrated Life. Bishop Brennan was the main celebrant of the Mass at St. Thomas More Church, located in the center of St. John’s University. The day is meant to unite the brothers, sisters, and priests and express gratitude for answering God’s call. In honor of the 2025 Holy Year, the religious also reflected on how they can become pilgrims of hope during the Jubilee.

Bishop Robert Brennan Celebrates Presentation of the Lord Feast Day in Brooklyn

On Sunday, Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated what he calls a throwback to Christmas the Presentation of the Lord. The feast day which takes place forty days after the birth of Jesus marks when Mary and Joseph brought the Son of God to the Temple. In a message from Bishop Brennan on his Twitter, the shepherd of the Diocese of Brooklyn talked about how this fulfilled God’s promise of the birth of the Son of God.

Nation Mourns 67 Victims of Midair Collision Over Potomac River

As recovery efforts continue in the Potomac River, days after an Army helicopter and passenger jet collided midair, prayers for the 67 people killed onboard are pouring in from across the country. From college assemblies to church services, the victims are being remembered.