White House Photo Gallery
Beginning in 1942, the White House has welcomed finalists from the ÃÛÌÒÌÇÐÄvlog’s renowned science research competitions. These finalists have had the opportunity to meet with presidents, vice presidents and first ladies who were eager to promote STEM education and honor our nation’s young talent for developing solutions to society’s most urgent challenges.
This gallery was created to tell the story of the extraordinary relationship the Society has with the White House and their shared commitment to STEM research and scholarship in America.
We hope you draw inspiration as you explore these extraordinary photos. If you would like to share a photo of your visit to the White House as a finalist, please email our alumni team with “White House Gallery†in the subject line.
Please visit our Regeneron ISEF,ÌýRegeneron ÃÛÌÒÌÇÐÄvlog Talent Search ²¹²Ô»åÌýThermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (JIC) pages to learn more about the Society’s world-class science research competitions.
STS finalists pose with Vice President Henry Wallace at the U.S. Capitol Building during the first ÃÛÌÒÌÇÐÄvlog Talent Institute in 1942. Wallace, a scientist himself, conversed with the students about their research and how science could aid the war effort.
![STS finalists with Vice President Wallace](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1942-Finalists-with-Vice-President-Wallace_1000.jpg)
![STS finalists with Vice President Wallace](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1942-Finalists-with-Vice-President-Wallace.jpg)
Vice President Henry Wallace meets with 1943 STS finalists during their visit to the Capitol Building. During their trip to Washington, D.C., the students also toured NBC Studios with Westinghouse scientists, as Westinghouse owned several NBC affiliate radio stations at the time.
![STS Finalists pose with Vice President WallaceÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1943-Finalists-with-Vice-President-Wallace_1000.jpg)
![STS Finalists pose with Vice President WallaceÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1943-Finalists-with-Vice-President-Wallace_2048.jpg)
1944 STS finalists are greeted by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt outside the White House. Following their meeting with the First Lady, the students toured the White House’s most famous rooms.
![First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt shakes hands with finalistsÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1944-Finalists-with-First-Lady-Eleanor-Roosevelt_1000.jpg)
![First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt shakes hands with finalistsÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1944-Finalists-with-First-Lady-Eleanor-Roosevelt_2048.jpg)
Vice President Henry Wallace welcomes STS finalists to the Capitol Building in 1944. One of the 1944 STS finalists, Ben Mottelson (pictured in the front row, fourth from left), went on to win the Nobel Prize in physics in 1975.
![Vice President Wallace greets STS finalists at the CapitolÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1944-Finalists-with-Vice-President-Henry-Wallace_1000.jpg)
![Vice President Wallace greets STS finalists at the CapitolÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1944-Finalists-with-Vice-President-Henry-Wallace_2048.jpg)
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt speaks with STS finalists at the White House in 1944. This meeting marked the first time finalists visited the White House as part of their weeklong trip to Washington, D.C., starting a tradition that continues today.
![STS finalists meet with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1944-Finalists-with-First-Lady-Eleanor-Roosevelt_2_1000.jpg)
![STS finalists meet with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1944-Finalists-with-First-Lady-Eleanor-Roosevelt_2_2048.jpg)
1945 STS finalists meet with Vice President Harry Truman in his office at the Capitol Building. Shaking hands with Truman is top female winner Marion Joswick, whose project explored fluorescent minerals.
![STS finalists visit Vice President Truman's office](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1945-Finalists-with-Vice-President-Truman_1000.jpg)
![STS finalists visit Vice President Truman's office](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1945-Finalists-with-Vice-President-Truman_2048.jpg)
President Harry Truman meets with STS finalists in the Oval Office in 1947. The top winner that year, Martin Karplus (second row, fourth from right), later became a member of the Society’s Honorary Board and won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2013.
![President Truman receives STS finalists in the Oval OfficeÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1947_STSFinalists_President_Truman-_1000.jpg)
![President Truman receives STS finalists in the Oval OfficeÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1947_STSFinalists_President_Truman_OvalOffice_2048.jpg)
First Lady Elizabeth “Bess†Truman poses for a photo in front of the White House with the 1948 STS finalists. The students also visited the Agricultural Research Center and the National Bureau of Standards during their week-long trip to the capital.
![STS finalists meet First Lady Elizabeth Truman at the White HouseÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1948_STSFinalists_FirstLady_BessTruman_1000.jpg)
![STS finalists meet First Lady Elizabeth Truman at the White HouseÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1948_STSFinalists_FirstLady_BessTruman_2048.jpg)
1949 STS finalists meet President Harry Truman in the Oval Office. During their visit, Truman stated, “I am sincerely hoping that all of you will go ahead with what you have started.†Two finalists from that year, Edward Thorp and Walter Gilbert, later became members of the Society’s Honorary Board.
![President Truman visits with STS finalists in the Oval OfficeÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1949STSFinalists_PresidentHarryTruman_OvalOffice_1000.jpg)
![President Truman visits with STS finalists in the Oval OfficeÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1949STSFinalists_PresidentHarryTruman_OvalOffice_2048.jpg)
1950 STS finalists, including future Society Honorary Board member Sheldon Glashow, gather around President Harry Truman’s desk in the Oval Office. At the Awards Banquet that year, Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer—the theoretical physicist known as the “father of the atomic bombâ€â€”delivered the keynote address.
![President Truman receives STS finalists at the White HouseÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1950_STSFinalists_PresidentHarryTruman_OvalOffice_1000.jpg)
![President Truman receives STS finalists at the White HouseÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1950_STSFinalists_PresidentHarryTruman_OvalOffice_2048.jpg)
President Harry Truman welcomes STS finalists to the Oval Office in 1951. Truman urged the students to pursue careers in science, stating, “The power and welfare of this country is wrapped up in scientific research.â€
![President Truman speaks to STS finalists in the Oval OfficeÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1951_STSFinalists_PresidentTruman_OvalOffice_1000.jpg)
![President Truman speaks to STS finalists in the Oval OfficeÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1951_STSFinalists_PresidentTruman_OvalOffice_2048.jpg)
1952 STS finalists meet with President Harry Truman in the White House Rose Garden. Truman remarked to the students, “I rather think we are going to have a peaceful world over the next century, and it will be your turn some day to make that world operate.â€
![STS finalists meet with President Truman on the White House lawnÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1952-_STSFinalists_PresidentHarryTruman_White_House_Lawn_1000.jpg)
![STS finalists meet with President Truman on the White House lawnÂ](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1952-_STSFinalists_PresidentHarryTruman_White_House_Lawn_2048.jpg)
President Ronald Reagan speaks to 1983 STS finalists in the Roosevelt Room. Finalist Victoria Romani recalled that the president “got kind of emotional. Looking across the room, he said he sees a lot of hope. . . . We got emotional too.â€
![President Reagan delivers remarks to STS finalists](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1983_STSFinalists_PresidentRegan_1_1000.jpg)
![President Reagan delivers remarks to STS finalists](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1983_STSFinalists_PresidentRegan_1.jpg)