The New Lab Assistant Program at Armstrong has become widely successful. The program helps engage students in their school, classes, and science. 

Leah Hogamier from The Hawk’s View discussed the benefits with Ms. Douglas and Ms. Kotyk, the creators of the program. They state that being a lab assistant helps students to explore careers, make executive functioning decisions, get workplace experience such as time management and organization, and “primarily engage students in science and laboratory preparation.” It also maintains a bond to teachers and the community. Ms. Douglas includes that students receive NHS hours for their hard work, but most students participate “out of the goodness of their heart.” 

The program started as a result of Nathan Ramer and Brody Stover coming during their study halls and free periods to help with laboratory preparation. “As the year progressed, Science 9 and Biology I students began to look to Nate and Brody as inspiration and volunteered to help,” Ms. Douglas states. 

Now, a year later, the program has at least 30 students volunteering. They complete tasks such as lab prep, clerical work, organizing material, preparing model sets, and inventory lists.

The majority of students come during homeroom, and others come during study halls and lunch periods. The tasks are completed by student availability, and Ms. Douglas and Ms. Kotyk both agree that academics come first.