On Thursday, February 19th, the Flintridge Prep community gathered in the Crawford Gymnasium for the school’s annual STEAM & Service Fair, a showcase highlighting the intersections of science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and service at Prep.
This year’s fair featured creativity and innovation from every grade level. Visitors explored a wide range of projects, including 7th grade English students’ literary explorations of The House on Mango Street and their blackout poetry creations, French 1 students’ sustainable fashion initiatives, 8th grade Earth & Space Science students’ Trash Interceptor Design Challenge, and 9th grade photography students’ pinhole camera experiments. Everyone enjoyed viewing geometric arabesques, 11th grade AP Literature & Composition character studies in soap, cravats and shoe roses for the Netherfield ball, an 11th grade independent project on a sustainable alternative to leather, a “trending” table, 12th grade Honors Physics engineered instruments, and of course, the 8th graders’ incredible Community Impact Projects. Many students spent months researching, designing, and conducting experiments for their projects, collaborating with peers and teachers to refine their ideas and presentations.
During community block, students, faculty, and staff filled the gym, eager to support and learn about students’ hard work throughout the school year. The gym buzzed with excitement as visitors moved from project to project, asking questions and engaging with the students behind the incredible projects. Later in the evening, family and friends had the opportunity to explore the various projects firsthand and attend the awards ceremony, which recognized achievement and innovation in multiple categories.
Katelyn Liu ‘27, who presented her science fair project on jellyfish polyp adaptation to phenanthrene exposure at the STEAM & Service Fair, describes, “It’s a really cool experience to present because it gives me the chance to connect with both professionals in the field and also people who don’t know anything about gene expression. I learn to communicate complex ideas to a lay audience and break down concepts [which] have challenged my own understanding.” Victoria Wang ‘28 added, “I enjoyed learning about the opportunities on campus and exploring different projects.”
The Flintridge Prep STEAM & Service Fair continues to provide students with a platform to appreciate and showcase creativity, innovation, and interdisciplinary learning, highlighting the school’s commitment to fostering innovation and a spirit of inquiry across all areas of learning.
