The Saint Louis Science Center proudly celebrated outstanding student achievement at the annual STEM STL Project Lead the Way Showcase on Friday, April 25. Each spring, the STEM STL Project Lead the Way Showcase invites high school seniors to exhibit capstone projects from their Project Lead the Way courses in engineering and biomedical science. During a special ceremony held at the Missouri Botanical Garden, five exceptional students received the Science Center’s Science Communicator Awards in recognition of their ability to clearly explain complex scientific concepts, engage diverse audiences, and reinforce core elements of the Science Center’s mission and strategic plan.
2025 Science Communicator Award Recipients
Mariah Lewis from Fort Zumwalt North High School demonstrated exceptional skill in communicating STEM topics with her poster project on safe and effective DIY insulin production.
Mason Schulte of Holt High School impressed judges with his project exploring ways of solving the modern mobility crisis in public and private spaces using technology.
And STEAM Academy at McCluer South Berkeley students Jonathan Rayford, Ludivine Renaud, and Selena Thomas earned recognition for their poster project investigating the effects of insect repellent DEET on simulated aquatic microorganisms.
Recognizing Excellence in Science Communication
Established in 2024, the Science Center’s Science Communicator Awards recognize students who excel not only in STEM knowledge but also in the critical skill of sharing that knowledge effectively. To evaluate the projects, Science Center team members from across the organization evaluated the projects using three categories:
- Look: Does the submission look like an exhibit, and is it displayed clearly in an eye-catching way?
- Language: Does the submission articulate the science and engineering concepts at play in a way that is easy to understand?
- Link: Does the submission tie into important concepts the Science Center has identified as being core to our mission and strategic plan?
This year’s winning students exemplify outstanding science communication and represent the next generation of scientists, educators, and innovators right here in St. Louis. Congratulations to the winners and all the students who participated in this year’s STEM STL Project Lead the Way Showcase!
