Guerin Prep Launches New Cutting-Edge Research and Innovation Department to Advance STEM Education

CHICAGO, IL – (March 19, 2015) – Guerin Prep (www.guerinprep.org), a Catholic, co-educational college preparatory school on Chicago’s Northwest side, has introduced a new Department of Research and Innovation. This advanced curriculum is designed to advance STEM - science, technology, engineering and math - education for Guerin Prep students, and train the next generation of innovators. The Department reinforces current STEM courses while introducing students to a myriad of new courses and topics, including cutting-edge forensics, computer programming and robotics.

“Guerin Prep prepares students for the college experience and beyond,” states Guerin Prep President Steve Baldwin. “In order to truly prepare our students to succeed in a 21st century world, we need to equip them with the tools to do so. The Department of Research and Innovation does just that. Our students are learning highly sought-after skills such as programming language and robotic engineering.”

Guerin Prep’s Department of Research and Innovation launches at a time when the United States Economics and Statistics Administration and Georgetown’s Center on Education and Workforce (CEW) project STEM occupations to grow at a rate of 17% through 2018, compared to a 10% growth rate for non-STEM occupations. The CEW also predicts that STEM occupations will comprise 8.6 million U.S. jobs by 2018. With these skills in demand, building students’ interest in the world of STEM studies, and exposing them to careers in these fields, becomes vital.

“There is a true demand for engineering in the United States,” says Department director Shannon Pearce, “And classes in the Department of Research and Innovation help to open the minds of our students and show them all the possibilities their future can hold with a career in science and engineering.”

Students taking courses in the Department in the 2014/2015 school year spent their first semester learning the basics of 3D design with Guerin Prep’s new 3D printer, as well as learning introductory principles of robotics and programming. In the 2015 spring semester, students will experience an increased focus on the robotics aspect of the Department. Pearce hopes to prepare students for robotics and engineering competitions, which serve as both technical skill-building and teamwork-oriented learning experiences.

“The Department of Research and Innovation exposes students to skills vital to success in any career path,” states Pearce, “Our students learn the importance of teamwork, collaborative critical thinking, and the will to try new options when one method doesn’t work out.”

Students who spent their first semester in the Department seem to agree. “It made us think on our toes, and challenged our problem-solving skills,” says Guerin Prep Senior Corey Jones, “We saw that, just like in the real world, not everything turns out perfectly and you need to figure out how to fix it.”

While Guerin Prep continues to evolve the Department to adjust to student feedback, cutting-edge trends and industry demand, Pearce holds the long-term vision for the Department: “Part of my long-term vision is to establish a STEM workshop to allow students to work on their various designs and projects during their free time. They would have their own work station equipped with a large testing space and all the tools imaginable.”

To learn more about the Department of Research and Innovation and Guerin Prep, visit www.guerinprep.org , or call 708-453-6233. Students and families may also schedule a shadow day visit to the campus by calling the number above, or visiting the website.