About

STEM Designation

St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (STVM) is a coeducational, college preparatory, Marianist-sponsored Catholic high school. Guided by a vision to provide the best of Catholic education with cutting-edge technology and forward thinking teaching practices. STVM boasts a long-standing tradition of excellence, while also blazing new trail as the only Catholic STEM-designated high school in Ohio.
 
As a state of Ohio designated STEM school, we teach beyond the traditional acronym of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). STEM at STVM is integrated into all classrooms and contents through the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Design Thinking, and Problem-based Learning. Students at STVM are immersed into a world of hands-on, authentic, integrated curriculum that empowers them to seek and find solutions for numerous authentic problems presented by faculty and our higher education and career oriented partners in Akron and beyond. 
 
In addition to STEM integration in our classroom curriculum, STVM offers exceptional programs including robotics, rocketry, engineering, and environmental science. STVM students develop a competitive edge through programs such as the nationally recognized science and rocket teams, the First Tech Challenge Robotics Team, the NASA Student Launch Challenge, and the NASA Fluid and Microgravity Research Team (which requires selection by NASA). Through our STEM Research Class, students collaborate with STEM professionals at the University of Akron College of Polymer Engineering. All of these unique opportunities foster new connections for our students, while also furthering knowledge and skill sets that can be applied to incoming college and career opportunities.

STVM’s on-campus learning labs include a Center for Science and Technology, outdoor garden and greenhouse, and emerging Maker Space. These facilities provide a world-class setting where students can design, prototype, build, and test their ideas while conferencing in real time with experts around the globe, allowing them to be in the forefront to present their research at prestigious science fairs, including NEOSEF and ISEF (the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair).
St. Vincent- St. Mary High School offers another excellent opportunity for our students through a STEM Research Class in partnership with the University of Akron School of Engineering and Polymer Science. Students in this program get the opportunity to work under the direction of a selected professor, in which they will shadow and engage in current scientific research being completed by that professor. Students must apply and be accepted into the program in order to participate. The program consists of a class at STVM (usually scheduled before school once a week) where students are guided through the necessary requirements of the program. Students are also paired with an STVM teacher who acts as their mentor throughout the year. The mentor teacher will work one-on-one with the student to help them navigate through the project and requirements of understanding their topic, writing papers, practicing presentations, etc. Students in the program will be expected to work at the university after school during the week for approximately 4-6 hours/week (most of the time in the lab will occur from September-February). While working in the lab, students will be under the direct supervision of a graduate assistant. Students will receive ½ honors credit for this class (1/4 credit for each semester). See Mr. Pjesky for application information.

St. Vincent-St. Mary High School

In the spirit of the Gospel, we are committed to educate the whole person; to lead and to serve, enlightening the mind, developing the body, touching the heart, and inspiring the soul.