It’s not just for college. It’s about genuine connections, something so scarce in high school. It’s about finding true passion in something you choose to do. For Landon Crain ‘24, the Science Research Seminar Class (SRS) helped him find his true strengths and determine a possible major.
“Definitely got me interested in doing research and stuff in college,” Crain said. “We did astronomy, which was very cool. A lot of the mathematics and physics concepts for our projects are things I’d like to keep doing.”
Offered only to upperclassmen, SRS is a structured research class in which students work with a mentor in the science field of their choosing, usually a university professor, to research and analyze a scientific question. These projects culminate in a district science fair, where students present their findings to a panel of judges.
SRS teacher Kat Ellis values the time she gets to spend guiding the program. Throughout her years at Monarch, students in SRS have continually impressed her with their problem-solving skills and intelligence.
“The projects that have made the greatest impact on me as a teacher are the ones that kids initiated themselves because they follow their own curiosity,” Ellis said. “And these are extremely brilliant, gifted kids that come through once every three or four years that just blow you away.”
Ellis encourages students to base their projects on topics that interest them. They form groups or partnerships with others who share that interest. Nicole Du ‘24 and her partner Brek Hoenninger ‘25 found a common interest in the biomedical field, researching the impact of strokes on the brain.
“You find a field you’re interested in and just explore from there, see what’s around here,” Hoenninger said. “See who would allow you to work with them.”
Useful real-world skills like communication, lab analysis, and computer skills in SRS prepare them for future careers in STEM, as Ellis stresses.
“Even though it’s a small group of kids, the district values it enough to keep funding it for each special, unique kid who doesn’t want the teacher telling them what to do, who just needs the teacher to check in with them, be curious with them, and move them forward with their adulting progress,” Ellis said. “It’s a fantastic experience.”
In class, Ellis supports students and provides structure to keep them on track with their projects. She believes in preparing them for college through real-world experiences, which they can often get through their mentors. She loves helping her students pursue their passions and being able to play a role in their academic journey.
“They can send their paper to the chair of the department they’re going to major in. And those kids get invited to do undergraduate research, sometimes even paid research positions because of the work they did in high school,” Ellis said. “To me, that’s the reward. Those are the rewards of the course.”