This summer, selected high school students will participate in the Summer Research Scientists Program. Of the 90 students in Missouri who have been chosen, six have been selected from Lafayette High School.

The selected students include sophomore Katriella Lumbantobing and juniors Katherine Huang, Jeffery Lu, Olivia Nuemann, Kelly Storrs and Anjana Renganathan.

The program will include experts in scientific research from Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis University (SLU), Washington University in St. Louis and University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). The experts will take on the selected students as apprentices in laboratories and direct the students in research projects. This alone has left many of the Lafayette participants excited including junior Olivia Nuemann.

“I’m really excited to be able to research with mentors and other scientists that are true professionals in what they do,” Nuemann said.

The selected students will also attend lectures of scientists in the St. Louis Science community, learn about the higher education admission process and even see shows performed by the St. Louis Symphony and attend a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.

Many students apply for the hands-on experience in science research and for future careers in the medical and scientific fields. Huang applied for the hands-on experience but also for the once in a lifetime chance it gives.

“I applied because I thought you don’t ever really get a chance like this where you get to sit down and be mentored by specific mentors when you go off to college, to research with professionals, so my major thought was that it would be a great opportunity,” Huang said.

The research program takes place from June 10 until July 19.  The program has 90 participants from the St. Louis area, twelve of which are from the Rockwood School District.  The opportunity was given to students by Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS) program.