Why Research Makes Students Stand Out: Watauga NSTEMHS in Action

“If you are passionate about STEM and have an idea, don't be afraid to give it what you can and see what becomes of it,”said Ireland Laxton."Most of the time your ideas will only grow and be rewarding in some way, so go ahead and try to make a difference.”

The logo for the North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair Photo Credit: ncsef.org

Sofia Peviani, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

Research has become one of the most powerful ways for students to stand out in college admissions, yet it remains an overlooked extracurricular. Beyond demonstrating curiosity, it shows admission officers that students had the initiative to learn beyond the classroom. It builds the skills needed by leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs, demonstrating that college students can contribute to knowledge rather than simply consume it.

Dr. Moulton, an assistant professor at Hunter College-CUNY, explained that there are various skills that go into research. Following through to find answers requires analytical and communication skills. A student’s research question often reveals their passion and determination to change their community and solve problems. 

“Taken together, all of these elements of research provide great insights into a person and their motivations, and in an academic context, those insights can help determine a student's likelihood of success, ability to work with others, capacity for critical thinking, and ability to communicate,” said Dr. Moulton.

Past science teacher and now administrator, Dr. Coleman Bailey has worked with countless students in different competitions. Research is unlike any other activity. With an almost infinite range of possibilities, it offers students niches of every kind and a community of curious thinkers to grow into. Learning about their topic of interest not only cultivates intellectual independence, but it also serves as a launching pad for college.

“Students essentially become the leading experts in the school on the topic they’re researching. These projects take everything students learn in high school and integrate it into one real piece of work,” said Dr. Bailey, Northwest Regional judge and NSTEMHS mentor. “Many of our competitions are similar to a mock thesis defense, so students are already practicing the kind of research presentation they’ll do in college.”

While college might seem like a long way away for some, students of any grade receive the benefits of participating in research. Since it is a long process, it presents students with many growth opportunities and challenges during the journey.

“I think independent research is one of the most important differentiators for college admissions because it shows independent academic proficiency. It shows colleges that you can understand your topic of choice, and then, most importantly, problem-solve your way through the issues that you encounter along the way,” said senior Leo McEvoy, NSTEMHS officer. “College admission depends heavily on what you do independently, and research is by far one of the best ways to stand out, especially if you place well.”

In rural towns, it might seem like opportunities are scarce, but for Watauga students, these opportunities are becoming more accessible. This year, Watauga started its first NSTEMHS chapter. Working on year-long projects, these students had their first competition to present their work right here at Watauga High School. 

NSTEMHS officers and team helped students brainstorm research ideas over the summer. They were also able to supply each student with funding for research and experimental tools. This unique opportunity led to a variety of projects across the club chapter and varied results.

Students were also encouraged to find mentors and professionals who would be able to help them during the process of a project. Finding mentors adds credibility to projects, which is something judges appreciate. It allows students to learn directly from experts, making the process more efficient and accurate.

“The mentors ended up being a big help, as lots of students chose mentors that they knew personally--many of whom worked at App-- and they provided them with expert advice and construction on how to go about their project,” said McEvoy.  “Mrs. Blow and Dr. Bailey also were really great help, and were the mentors of many students going to the competition,”

The Northwest Regional North Carolina Science & Engineering Fair is one of the official regional qualifying science fairs in North Carolina. Students in the region compete with independent research projects, and top projects are able to advance to the state fair and potentially to the international level. 

In the Northwest Regional Science Fair (Region 7), several counties are eligible to compete, such as Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey. This year’s competition was held at Watauga High School on February 14. A total of 31 students at Watauga competed. Due to weather conditions, the competition was delayed a week out of concern for the safety of the students. Despite this, students were flexible, and many enjoyed their experience at the fair. 

“My project helped me grow academically and personally,” said McEvoy. “I got to become an expert in Enhanced Rock Weathering. I had to restart my project about four times. Creating an accurate data set about my project took a long time, and it was never really perfect, but that's the nature of a research project.”

The typical progression for students starts at the school fair, the regional fair (such as the Northwest Regional), the State fair at North Carolina State University, and finally the International competition, such as the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) for top senior projects. Though it is challenging to get into the State and International fairs, many qualified students gained a spot at these divisions. 

“Out of 31 students from Watauga who presented at regionals, 27 advanced to the North Carolina State Science Fair,” said Dr. Bailey

There are numerous competitions that students can participate in. Projects are divided into grades and categories such as Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biomedical engineering, Environmental science, Physics, Computer Science, and Behavioral science. 

“Three judges would come to your table and grade you on your presentation, and then after each of the academic subjects would be awarded a top 3, and those people qualified for States,” said McEvoy

Understanding how a project is judged might be what separates a strong project from an average one. Knowing what to aim for gives students a clearer target and cleaner performance on competition day.

“All of our high school projects were judged by professors from Appalachian State University, who determined whether the research had enough merit to advance to the state competition,” said Dr. Bailey.

The judges grade projects on six categories: the Research Question (10 points), Design and Methodology (15 points), Execution (20 points), Creativity (20 points), Presentation (35 points), and finally the Interview (25 points). With so many things to keep in mind, it can be tricky to stand out. 

“An original student's idea, the amount of background research they do, and how they form their procedure or question really go a long way with the judges. In the science fair, they want to see strong student ownership of the project,” said Dr. Bailey. “In the science fair, we’re really evaluating the process. The result isn’t nearly as important as the process the student went through to get there.”

Curiosity and passion fuel the start of a project, but it takes more than interest to place well. According to students who participated, the projects that stood out shared some key qualities. 

“I would say that what made most projects stand out was if they were unique, local to the area, especially if there was a lesson to be learned/related to modern day. The best projects were the ones that had a possible future use or were beneficial for others,” said McEvoy

Not only is research a great way to stand out during college applications, but it’s also a chance to be a part of an unforgettable experience, build bonds, and learn from true professionals. It allows you to grow as a student and an individual, teaching them  responsibility, and determination.

“Every year I see students learn completely new skills just for their projects,” said Dr. Bailey

For anyone considering getting into research, it is well worth the effort. With a topic for everyone, it’s not limited to scientists and engineers. Between countless scholarships, academic recognition, and a chance to stand out in college admissions, it is a transformative and meaningful opportunity.

“Everyone should do NSTEM. It is such a unique opportunity, and it will help so much with your critical thinking and reasoning skills,” said McEvoy. “It will definitely push you out of your comfort zone.”