STEM Project Wins Blue Ribbon at State Science Fair!

Congratulations to Waterloo sophomore Elizabeth Evertson! Her STEM project won the Blue Ribbon (1st place) in the Engineering Mechanics category at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair at A&M University on March 26th.

Elizabeth designed and conducted this experiment as part of our Research and Analysis course this winter term, and it won first place in the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair in February. Of the 19,000 students who competed in regional science fairs across Texas, only 588 advanced to state. Elizabeth received one of just 21 Blue Ribbons, putting her in the top 0.1% of the state! We couldn’t be more proud of her dedication and beautiful work.

Elizabeth’s Science Fair Project

In her project, Elizabeth explored how traditional how “negative pneumatic actuators” have the capacity to be safer, more reliable, and more economic than traditional robotic actuators. You can view her whole presentation here.

STEM at Waterloo

As a project-based private high school, Waterloo offers many great opportunities for students to dive deep into science, technology, engineering, and math — STEM for short!

• Dual-Enrollment Courses with UT: Juniors and seniors at Waterloo are eligible to take a dual-enrollment course in partnership with UT called Engineering Your World: Engineering Design and Analysis. This course awards 3.0 college credits and provides the same world-class content engineering students receive at UT!
• Molecular Biology: Students get hands-on experience with advanced technology like DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, thermocyclers, and more. Course content includes forensic DNA analysis, PCR and cloning techniques, and CRISPR gene editing.
• Science Fair: Students can take their STEM class projects to the next through competitions like the Austin Energy Regional Science Fair.
• Design Lab: Students develop a design-thinking mindset, critical thinking skills, collaboration, and experience in “d.lab” our new design lab. Activities include 3D printing, laser cutting and burning, woodworking, and more.

Waterloo’s unique environment is a great place to discover and pursue your passion. Our recent graduates have gone on to pursue several STEM degrees, including engineering and environmental science.

Check out Project-Based Learning in Action

What concepts would YOU explore with the right opportunities, resources, and mentorship? We would love to help you find out! The best way to experience Waterloo is to schedule a tour, attend an experience day, or visit an end-of-term student showcase.

Next Experience Day: Wednesday, April 27

2022 Spring Student Showcase: Tuesday, May 27 at 7 pm