MICDS Student Has Science in Her Genes

At 15, with college right around the corner, Preethi UmaShanker has been giving a lot of thought to the universal question that plagues most teenagers, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

Fortunately for UmaShanker, she has a jump on the answer.

“Science is definitely a path I want to take,” said the resident of St. Charles, Mo., who is entering her junior year at Mary Institute and Country Day School in Ladue, Mo.

This summer, UmaShanker joined more than 80 students from 33 high schools taking part in the 2012 STARS program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.  STARS stands for Students and Teachers as Research Scientists. The program pairs students with top research mentors from UMSL, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis and the Solae Company.

Participants in the 2012 program include 82 students from 33 high schools in the St. Louis metro area, as well as California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa and Greece.

To read the full article click HERE.

STARS will wrap up its six-week program with a ceremony at 3 p.m. July 20 in the J.C. Penney Building/Conference Center at UMSL. The event is free and open to the public.