Adams High School's research class fosters inquiry and has led to STEM careers

The finals are final. The grades are in. The lockers are clean. The graduating seniors from Adams High School are ready to move to the next step in education, while underclass members in the research science class are thinking of next fall’s project.

Their work continues. There is tweaking to do for next fall when they come back to continue the classwork. More questions to ask.

About 15 students were ready to show off their research work in early May. It was before the semester ended and the final papers were due. Some were enthusiastic about talking, while others stood in the background. A few have a long history of science fairs. A variety of backgrounds and interests. All very intelligent.

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High school is like that.

Quiet or not, all shared a passion for the opportunities to be in research class, test their ideas and see what is next.

They were working with planaria (flatworms), mice, wind tunnels and brine shrimp. The teens were digging into the study of dementia, fuel cells, microplastics and global warming.

All this is done under the watchful eye of legendary teacher Nevin Longenecker. He has been teaching the class since 1976. Longenecker keeps a running list of former students who have continued with research, entered medicine, engineering or another field. The list includes local surgeons, cancer researchers, biologists and many other areas. It is a long list.

William Przybysz, retired Adams principal, said he has always been in awe of the students who took the class. “I would go into the class and not understand anything they were talking about, let alone pronounce what they were working on. All are super smart, and they are working under the watchful eye of an excellent coordinator, Mr. Longenecker.”

Przybysz said the research class is a model for other schools. “He (Longenecker) has received inquiries from as far away as Australia on how to establish a class like it.”

He said the class continues to be important and has had a hand at producing numerous STEM research stars.

Longenecker said he was thankful for the past support of Przybysz and current principal James Seitz and Superintendent Todd Cummings. “Mr. Przybysz gave the commencement speech for Adams last year and talked at length about the importance of the research class. He must have spoken for 10 minutes about it.”

The students say the class is transformative. A chance to focus and be creative.

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Eavan Kelly said the research class is the type of experience she was looking for. “Working independently” has been important. Her summer activity will be at Notre Dame’s Harper Cancer Research Institute.

Eavan is working with food extracts and flatworms.

Here are a few other research projects from Adams.

Ja’Schanna Page’s preliminary work focused on the development of an alternative fuel source from algae. She will join Eavan at Harper’s for summer research.

Karin Visser worked with mice, music and aggressive behavior. It was Led Zeppelin versus Beethoven.

Brendan Willour and Mario Ruiz-Yamamoto used computer programming to evaluate the effect of turmeric and cognitive reaction in lab mice.

Josetta Chandler is anticipating a career in veterinary science. She spent the year retrofitting older environmental fuel cells to improve energy output that could provide energy for a pacemaker.

Jillian Kaufman focused on energy efficient cars and wind tunnels. She will be at Notre Dame in a summer engineering program.

Dream schools for the future — MIT, Purdue or a variety of schools in California. A few said Indiana University South Bend, which is across the street from their high school.

Their teacher said the students often select topics that are popular in the news, such as fuel cells. “Or something that interests their parents or has global concerns. In a sense, there is nothing new under the sun. Topics come and go. Their interests fall in line.”

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The students have limited time in the classroom, so no major discoveries. “A breakthrough is unlikely in high school,” Longenecker said.

The breakthrough is more about what the students find in their own life. “They find their future, what is possible. They are challenged. They find careers. Their investigations aren’t simple. Solutions aren’t simple. The students get frustrated with me when they ask about research. I say it 'depends' on a lot of factors.”

That’s a lot like the rest of life.

The teacher is looking forward to next fall and more inquiring minds.

Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend's Adams High School research class a STEM model for others