STEM Spotlights

MAR 2026 Submissions

Columbia Students Shine in State STEM Design Challenge

School: Columbia Middle School (Columbia Station)

Educator: Jacki Daymut, STEM Teacher

Grade Level: 5–8 (Focus on 7th & 8th Grade Engineering & Design)

Designing the Future of Transportation

Students in Columbia Middle School’s Engineering and Design class took on a real-world challenge through the Ohio STEM Learning Network State Design Challenge. The guiding question asked students: How do we improve aspects of electric transportation to enhance the movement of people and things across Ohio? Seven student teams developed innovative solutions, applying the engineering design process to research, design, and present their ideas.

From Classroom Innovation to State Recognition

After evaluating all submissions, one team’s solution stood out. Grace and Alivia were selected to represent Columbia Middle School with their design and digital presentation. Their project earned recognition as one of the top 21 entries in the state, securing an invitation to the State Design Challenge Showcase at Battelle headquarters in Columbus. At the showcase, Grace and Alivia presented their work to scientists, engineers, and industry professionals, gaining valuable feedback and real-world experience.

Why It Matters

Opportunities like the OSLN State Design Challenge empower students to think beyond the classroom and see themselves as innovators and problem-solvers. By tackling authentic challenges and presenting to industry experts, students build confidence, deepen their understanding of STEM concepts, and explore potential career pathways.

Columbia Middle School continues to demonstrate how meaningful STEM experiences can elevate student voice, creativity, and real-world readiness.

Midview Students Turn Engineering Design Into Play at Elementary STEM Night

School: Midview East Intermediate School (Grafton)

Educator: Kim Kauffman, PLTW/STEM Teacher

Grade Level: 5–6 (Family Event for K–6 Students)

Engineering Design Meets Global Exploration

Students at Midview East Intermediate are taking on a schoolwide engineering design challenge as part of their Project Lead The Way (PLTW) STEM program. Fifth and sixth grade students are designing and building upcycled mini golf holes for Midview’s annual Elementary STEM Night.

Each hole is inspired by civilizations, landmarks, and landforms students are studying in social studies, creating a powerful cross-curricular connection between STEM and global studies. Using repurposed materials, students apply the engineering design process to brainstorm, prototype, test, and refine their designs.

During STEM Night, families will be able to play 20 student-designed mini golf holes, seeing firsthand how students transformed ideas into interactive engineering projects.

A Night of Hands-On STEM

In addition to the mini golf course, families will explore interactive STEM activity stations that highlight global engineering and design challenges. Activities include:

Building a pipe cleaner Eiffel Tower in France
Constructing a pyramid in Egypt
Creating a marshmallow snowflake in Finland
Designing a kite in China
Completing a STEM passport with stamps from six activity stations

Why It Matters

Midview’s STEM Night showcases how project-based learning and the engineering design process help students develop creativity, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving skills. By connecting engineering design to social studies content and community engagement, students experience how STEM learning can bring classroom concepts to life.

Events like this highlight Midview’s continued commitment to expanding STEM opportunities for students across grade levels while celebrating the creativity and innovation of young engineers.

Robotics Excellence: Elyria Teams Advance to State Championship

School: Elyria High School (Elyria)

Educator: Mike West, Makerspace Teacher

Grade Level: 9–12 (Middle & High School Teams)

Competing at the Highest Level

The Elyria Robotics program is celebrating an exceptional season, with 9 of 12 teams qualifying for the State Championship Tournament held at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton. Among those advancing were 5 of 6 middle school teams and 4 of 6 high school teams.

These teams ranked among the top 20% of robots in the state, demonstrating high-level engineering, strategic thinking, and competitive excellence.

A Season of Achievement

This milestone caps an impressive year for Elyria Robotics:

Middle school teams finished undefeated in the regular season
High school teams won four tournaments
Earned three Excellence Awards
Received two Design Awards recognizing superior documentation of the engineering design process

Engineering in Action

Through robotics, students apply principles of mechanical design, coding, documentation, collaboration, and iterative problem-solving. Their success reflects not only competitive skill, but strong systems thinking, persistence, and technical craftsmanship.

Why It Matters

Programs like Elyria Robotics exemplify how STEM learning develops real-world engineering skills, teamwork, and career-ready competencies. Students are not just building robots, they are building problem-solving habits that transfer directly to advanced manufacturing, automation, AI-integrated systems, and future workforce pathways.

FEB 2026 Submissions

Tech Leadership Launches First Semester-Length Course at Avon Middle School

School: Avon Middle School

Educator: Matt Eibon

Grade Levels: 6–8

Course: 7th/8th Grade Pre-Engineering & Tech Leadership

Hands-On Technology & Leadership Development

Avon Middle School officially launched its first semester-length Tech Leadership course, offering 7th and 8th grade students a hands-on elective focused on technology, problem-solving, and leadership development. The course provides authentic, real-world experiences in configuring, troubleshooting, and repairing computer hardware and peripherals, with a primary emphasis on Chromebooks.

Growing as Leaders and Collaborators

Beyond technical skills, Tech Leadership emphasizes essential professional competencies such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and customer service. Students work both independently and collaboratively to solve problems, think critically, and support peers—skills that translate across many career pathways.

Project-Based Learning with Real Impact

Throughout the semester, students participate in a capstone-style, project-based learning experience. Teams identify a need, develop a plan, and implement a solution, integrating technical expertise with leadership principles and meaningful community impact.

Why It Matters

The Tech Leadership course prepares students with a strong blend of technical knowledge and interpersonal skills, helping them explore future career pathways in technology while building confidence, responsibility, and leadership at the middle school level.

Exploring Plant Biology Through Succulent Water Propagation

School: Lorain County JVS

Educator: Beth Berthold, Landscape and Greenhouse Management Instructor

Grade Levels: 11–12

Event Date: January 7, 2026

Hands-On Plant Science Investigation

Students in the Landscape and Greenhouse Management program at Lorain County JVS applied their understanding of plant biology and propagation techniques to investigate whether succulents could be successfully propagated in water—a method typically reserved for other plant types.

Career-Connected Learning

This investigation mirrors real-world practices in greenhouse management, horticulture, and agricultural science, reinforcing industry-relevant skills such as experimentation, data collection, and problem-solving.

Why It Matters

By engaging in authentic scientific inquiry, students strengthened their understanding of plant biology while developing critical thinking and technical skills essential for careers in landscaping, greenhouse management, and agricultural sciences.

Elyria High School Science Fair

School: Elyria High School

Educator: Rachel Fontenot, STEM Teacher

Grade Levels: 10–12

Event Date: May 5, 2026

Student-Led Scientific Inquiry

Elyria High School students in grades 10–12 will participate in an upcoming Science Fair designed to showcase student-driven inquiry, experimentation, and problem-solving. This experience provides students with the opportunity to explore scientific questions of interest and apply the scientific method in a meaningful, authentic context.

Preparing for Future Pathways

Participation in the Science Fair helps students build skills aligned with postsecondary education and career readiness, including project management, data analysis, and presentation skills. Students also gain experience defending their ideas and findings, mirroring expectations in college and professional STEM environments.

Why It Matters

Science fairs promote curiosity, creativity, and perseverance while giving students a platform to demonstrate their STEM knowledge and problem-solving abilities. This event highlights Elyria High School’s commitment to fostering inquiry-based learning and preparing students for future STEM opportunities.

JAN 2026 Submissions

Busy Bees: Learning About Pollination and Plant Growth

School: Powers Elementary School (Amherst)

Educator: Heidi Triska, Teacher

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Hands-On Plant Science

Kindergarten students at Powers Elementary were “busy bees” as they explored the important role of pollination in helping plants grow. Students had fun buzzing around the classroom while participating in an interactive activity where they “pollinated” flowers, building early understanding of how plants reproduce.

Growing as Young Scientists

As part of their ongoing plant unit, students also planted grass seeds, giving them a chance to observe plant growth firsthand and connect learning to real-world experiences.

Building Vocabulary and Connections

The class wrapped up the unit by learning about evergreen and deciduous trees and exploring how plants help people through stories like Johnny Appleseed and the work of George Washington Carver. Students are also strengthening academic vocabulary with words such as deciduous, evergreen, bouquet, and crops.

Cross-Curricular Learning

This unit connects science, literacy, and math, as students continue practicing foundational addition and subtraction skills while deepening their understanding of the natural world.

Why It Matters

These engaging early STEM experiences help young learners develop curiosity, vocabulary, and scientific thinking while building strong foundations for future exploration in life science.

Directional Coding with Kindergarten

Educator: Amy Makruski, Principal / STEM Teacher
School: St. Joseph Parish School – Amherst
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Event Date: November 10, 2025

Directional Coding Exploration

At St. Joseph Parish School, all grade levels participate in computer science and coding in developmentally appropriate ways. In November, Kindergarten students explored directional coding using Colby the Code & Go Mouse, building early understanding of hardware, software, and foundational coding concepts.

Students began with open-ended play and exploration, sharing what they noticed and wondered as they interacted with the robot. As their confidence grew, coding challenges were gradually increased to extend thinking and deepen engagement.

Hands-On Learning & Computational Thinking

Through this activity, students practiced sequencing, problem-solving, and debugging while working collaboratively. In addition to successfully coding the robot, students strengthened essential skills such as collaboration, sharing, communication, and listening—key competencies for early learners.

Why It Matters

Early exposure to coding helps students develop logical thinking, persistence, and collaboration skills that support future learning across STEM disciplines. This experience demonstrates how computer science can be meaningfully integrated in primary grades while nurturing curiosity, confidence, and foundational computational thinking skills.

Forces in Motion: Rollercoaster Engineering Challenge

School: Brookside Intermediate School

Educator: Wes Davies, Principal

Grade Levels: 3–6

Event Date: November 25, 2025

Engineering in Action

Classrooms at Brookside Intermediate School were transformed into hands-on engineering labs as students took on a two-day STEM challenge focused on designing and building functional marble rollercoasters. The experience pushed students beyond textbook learning and into authentic application of physics, geometry, and collaborative problem-solving.

Day One: Design & Documentation

Students worked in collaborative teams to draft detailed rollercoaster designs, emphasizing planning and technical communication. Teams created written descriptions explaining their structural choices and predicting how marbles would move through the system—bridging science concepts with literacy skills.

Day Two: Construction & Testing

Using their blueprints, teams brought their designs to life. The classrooms buzzed with excitement as students tested, revised, and refined their structures. Finished coasters featured loops, sharp turns, and daring drops, showcasing both creativity and engineering precision.

Why It Matters

This challenge provided students with an authentic engineering experience that reinforced force, motion, and design thinking while fostering collaboration, perseverance, and innovation. The project highlighted Brookside Intermediate students’ growing confidence as problem-solvers and future engineers.

DEC 2025 Submissions

Ranger High Tech Academy – STONE LAB Immersion: Real-World Water Science

Educators: Randy Wood, Grade 7/8 STEM Teacher
Event Date: April 26, 2025

Stone Lab Immersion

Ranger High-Tech Academy’s seventh graders capped off their Water Systems PBL with a hands-on field experience at The Ohio State University’s Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island. Guided by Stone Lab educators, students stepped into the role of environmental scientists and explored the Lake Erie ecosystem through authentic investigations.

Field Investigations & Hands-On Science

Students engaged in a variety of immersive STEM activities, including water quality testing, investigating invasive species, examining their impact on ecosystem stability, and identifying native and invasive fish species using specimens and laboratory tools

Why It Matters

The Stone Lab trip brought together inquiry, collaboration, and real-world application—core elements of RHTA’s STEM culture. Students left with a stronger appreciation for scientific investigation and the natural resources that shape the Lorain County region.

Midview East Intermediate School – 6th Grade Top AFO Showcase

School: Midview East Intermediate School

Educator: Kim Kauffman, Project Lead The Way / STEM Teacher (Grades 5–6)

Event Date: November 18, 2025

Engineering with Purpose

Sixth graders in Mrs. Kim Kauffman’s Design & Modeling class embraced a powerful real-world challenge: designing an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) to help a child with cerebral palsy improve mobility. Working in engineering design teams, students researched the condition, explored human anatomy, and applied PLTW’s engineering design process to ideate, sketch, model, test, and refine their prototypes.

The project required students to think deeply about function, comfort, stability, usability, and the needs of a real end-user—mirroring the work of biomedical engineers in the field.

Cross-District Collaboration in Action

Students from the Midview High School PLTW Biomedical Science and Engineering programs—led by Mrs. Jessica Dembiec and Mr. Jacob Winslow—visited the intermediate school to listen to engineering presentations, ask questions about design decisions, evaluate prototypes for effectiveness, and offer feedback grounded in their own biomedical and engineering coursework.

This authentic audience elevated the learning experience and empowered younger engineers to communicate their thinking with confidence.

Why It Matters

This showcase highlighted the strength of a PLTW districtwide pathway - rigorous, applied learning, critical thinking and collaboration, use of the engineering design process, a real audience for student innovation, and connections to future STEM course offerings and careers.

NOV 2025 Submissions

Elyria High School – Soldering for Replay for Kids and Halloween Signs

School: Elyria High School

Educator: Jeannine Stape, STEAM Teacher (Grades 9–12)

Event Date: October 6, 2025

Engineering with Purpose

At Elyria High School, students in Jeannine Stape’s STEAM classes are learning that technology and compassion go hand in hand. Partnering with Replay for Kids, a nonprofit that modifies toys for children with disabilities, students learned how to solder wires and replace switches with adaptive jacks, allowing children to control toys using their own assistive devices.

Through this process, students gained real-world experience with electronic circuitry, soldering techniques, and assistive technology, while understanding how engineering can improve lives. The project also inspired empathy, teamwork, and pride as students saw the impact of their work on local families.

Why It Matters

This project demonstrates how hands-on STEM learning can connect classroom skills to community impact. By combining design, engineering, and service, students not only mastered new technical abilities but also experienced how STEM can make the world more inclusive and accessible.

Firelands Middle School – Transportation Careers: Automotive Displays & Accessories Trainer

School: Firelands Middle School
Educator: Chuck Latto, Industry 4.0 Instructor (Grades 7–8)
Event Date: October 17, 2025

Hands-On Exploration of Automotive Technology

Students in Chuck Latto’s Industry 4.0 class at Firelands Middle School are diving into the world of transportation technology and automotive systems. Through the use of an Automotive Displays and Accessories Trainer, learners gain first-hand experience simulating real vehicle operations. They examine multiple engine systems — including gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and electric — while analyzing how components such as lubrication, ignition, coolant, fuel, and charging systems work together to keep a vehicle running.

Learning by Diagnosing

With a focus on troubleshooting and diagnostics, students use the trainer to simulate common automotive faults such as low oil pressure, brake fluid loss, or a failing temperature sensor. They pair this experience with virtual online diagnostic software, where they interpret fault codes and apply problem-solving skills similar to those used by professional technicians.

Why It Matters

This project connects students directly to careers in automotive and transportation technology, providing a clear understanding of how STEM principles apply to the vehicles they see every day. By integrating hands-on equipment and virtual tools, students are developing critical thinking, technical literacy, and career awareness — essential skills for the future of the modern automotive industry.

Ranger High Tech Academy – Soil Health Study

Educator: Jayna Szwedko, Grade 6 Teacher
Event Date: October 10, 2025

Digging into Local Science
Sixth graders at RHTA partnered with The Ohio State University to conduct a community soil health study. Students learned to test and analyze soil samples from surrounding neighborhoods, compiling their findings into informational brochures for residents.

STEM in the Community
By connecting environmental science with civic engagement, students provided residents with actionable insights for improving their soil’s health — showing how data, collaboration, and communication can drive real community impact.

Soil Sampling Video.mov

Ranger High Tech Academy – Women in STEM: BGSU Event

Educators: Alex DeSciscio & Rachel Maxwell, Grade 8 STEM Teachers
Event Date: October 22, 2025

Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in STEM
Eighth-grade girls from RHTA attended the Women in STEM event at Bowling Green State University, engaging in hands-on experiments, coding, and robotics.

Representation Matters
By connecting with women scientists, engineers, and college students, learners saw firsthand how women are leading in STEM fields. The experience encouraged confidence, shattered stereotypes, and helped girls envision their own paths in science and technology.

Ranger High Tech Academy – Monarch Butterfly PBL

Educator: Kacie Giunta, Grade 3 Teacher
Event Date: October 21, 2025

Learning Through Advocacy
Third graders explored the essential question: “Why is the monarch butterfly’s survival important to our environment?” Through a project-based learning experience, they researched life cycles and environmental challenges, then created educational flyers and milkweed seed packets for local residents.

STEM for Environmental Impact
Students presented their advocacy materials to neighbors, promoting conservation and awareness while strengthening communication, empathy, and scientific understanding.

Ranger High Tech Academy – Ecosystem Project

Educator: Stacy Thacker, Grade 5 Teacher
Event Date: October 28, 2025

Building Sustainable Habitats
Fifth graders extended their work from a 2024 Pollinator Garden project into new efforts focused on ecosystem maintenance and habitat design. Students are now preparing to launch a Habitat Trail on campus and refurbish pollinator houses for Old Woman Creek and RHTA.

Why It Matters
These hands-on experiences in environmental engineering connect directly to state science standards and build student ownership in local conservation efforts. RHTA will celebrate its upcoming Wild School Site designation through the Ohio Division of Wildlife in spring 2026.

Ranger High Tech Academy – Volcanoes in Costa Rica

Educator: Randi Muck, Grades 3–8 Teacher
Event Date: December 5, 2025

Cross-Grade Collaboration in Action
Grades 3–8 learners collaborated in a cross-curricular study of volcanoes and plate tectonics, culminating in hands-on demonstrations and student-led presentations.

Global Connections and Real-World Learning
Older students researched earthquakes, met with an engineer from Mexico specializing in earthquake-resistant structures, and taught younger students about seismic safety and engineering principles.

This collaboration built a positive school culture while helping learners of all ages connect scientific knowledge to real-world global challenges.

SEPT/OCT 2025 Submissions

Walter G. Nord School – Painting with Sphero

School: Walter G. Nord School
Educator: Beth Schwartz, Technology Innovation Specialist (Grades 4–5)
Event Date: May 27, 2025

Coding Meets Creativity

During Field Day, Walter G. Nord School 4th and 5th graders got creative with code by using Sphero robots. With their school colors in hand, students engineered colorful paintings while experimenting with speed, direction, and patterns.

Problem-Solving in Action

The activity blended fun with learning — students had to adjust their coding to achieve the best results, applying problem-solving and iteration in real time.

Why It Matters

Painting with Sphero introduced students to the power of coding in a playful, hands-on way. By combining technology with creativity, Beth’s class showed how robotics can spark engagement, teamwork, and excitement for STEM learning.

🔗 See more from Mrs. Schwartz on X: Painting with Sphero

Columbia Middle School STEAM Day

School: Columbia Middle School
Educator: Jacki Daymut, Engineering & Technology Teacher (Grades 5–8)
Event Date: May 22, 2025

Engaging All Students in STEM Through Problem-Solving

Every year, Columbia Middle School hosts STEAM Day, a schoolwide event where students participate in a project-based learning (PBL) competition. Using the engineering design process, students work in teams to tackle a real-world problem.

Community Collaboration

The event is powered by strong community connections: 20 guest judges from local businesses not only evaluate projects but also serve as mentors, offering feedback during the design process.

Showcasing Student Innovation

The competition builds to an exciting finale — the top two teams in each grade level present their solutions in front of all the judges and the student body. Judges then use a rubric to determine the overall winner.

Why It Matters

STEAM Day empowers students to think critically, collaborate, and innovate while also connecting them directly with local professionals who use these skills every day. It’s an inspiring example of how schools can build bridges between the classroom and the community.

🔗 See more highlights from Ms. Daymut: @mrsdaymut on Instagram

Avon Middle School – STEM Engagement for Girls

School: Avon Middle School

Educator: Michelle Hurrelbrink, STEAM Teacher (Grades 7–8)

Event Date: Ongoing

Creating Inclusive Opportunities in STEM

When Michelle Hurrelbrink joined Avon Local Schools in 2021, she noticed that girls made up only a small fraction of students in her STEAM courses — just 13% on average. Determined to change this, she redesigned the Digital Media Art course into Digital Creation and Marketing, a class that integrates technology, entrepreneurship, and design.

Real-World Tools and Experiences

Students now use iPads, Apple Pencils, Canva, Procreate, Glowforge, Cricut, and sublimation tools to launch and run the AMS Pop-Up Shop, a creative small business that applies the engineering design process to real-world challenges.

Shifting the Balance

The redesign has transformed enrollment: girls now make up 70–75% of the class, a powerful increase that reflects the appeal of combining creativity, problem-solving, and technology.

Why It Matters

Michelle’s work demonstrates how intentional course design can make STEM more inclusive. By valuing creativity alongside technology, she has created a pathway for girls to see themselves as innovators and leaders in STEM fields.

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