Independent Study and Research Opportunities

In a vibrant showcase of curiosity and critical thinking, the Grade 7 Science Fair at King demonstrated the power of inquiry-based learning. Following the earlier science fairs of the upper school and Grade 5, this event on Thursday, May 30, reaffirmed King’s commitment to research-driven education across all divisions.

In a season of milestones, this week, the eighth STEM Colloquium highlighted the achievements of six senior science students who presented Capstone Projects reflecting years of research that earned them STEM Distinctions. Nick Butler, Grant Dietz, Spencer Neckritz, Layla Shah, Ryan Wempen, and Antonia Kolb shared the research they conducted at MIT, Yale University, and Mt. Sinai Research Hospital, among others. The students worked independently alongside the top researchers in their chosen fields of study to earn distinctions recognizing their passion, determination, perseverance, and achievement.

At this year's Art Colloquiums, seniors presented their culminating OPEN capstone portfolios after years of artistic exploration. The presentations at the Performing Arts Center showcased the students' personal growth and creative experimentation throughout their time at King. Themes of personal evolution, societal reflection, and artistic exploration were evident throughout the presentations, highlighting the diverse talents and perspectives of the graduating class.

King School’s Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE) students are on a winning streak, having earned accolades at the Connecticut STEM Fair and recognition at the Connecticut Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (CT-JSHS). Their success in these competitions bolsters the depth and breadth of the school’s success in fostering intellectual growth through curiosity and research.

King students, parents, faculty, staff, and families interested in King School’s approach to science packed the Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 16, for King’s second annual Science Research Night. The evening event was a testament to King’s commitment to inquiry-based learning and showcased the high level of scientific research students engage in each year.

In mid-November, six King students attended the Girls Advancing In STEM (GAINS) conference in what was the first in-person gathering for the community since the coronavirus pandemic. The event, which took place at Yale University, spanned three days during which high school girls interested in STEM connected with role models working in STEM fields.

Throughout his time in the King Upper School, Tommy Heaton ’23 developed an interest in credit cycles, the recurring economic phases of borrowing and lending. After parsing decades of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s meetings and finding patterns in recessions, he distilled his findings into a research paper that is garnering attention.