Inspired by her love of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and her amazing math and science teachers, St. Ambrose alum, Elisabeth Preston is finding a way to give back. Elisabeth, a junior at Edwardsville High School and

Ambassador Girl Scout, created a Gold Award proposal that would bring a brand new STEAM lab to the students of St. Ambrose. She wants to use her experiences in STEAM to create an environment that will foster the love for STEAM and encourage creative thinking in the current and future students at St. Ambrose.

Elisabeth is transforming a spare room in the school into a working STEAM lab for students of all ages. This summer she led a team of volunteers in clearing out the space. The room is getting a fresh coat of paint and will be filled with various stations for the students to use. Included will be a grow station, 3-D printers, robotics, a lego wall, a fully stocked makerspace, and a reading nook with a library of STEAM books for readers of all ages.

In addition, Elisabeth has been working with teachers and experts to create STEAM kits and resource materials to help make the lab easy to use for teachers and students. Students will have age appropriate activities to help spark their interest in all things science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The lab will also provide a space for more in-depth lab work and a home for a STEAM club.

The grand opening for the completed STEAM lab is set to kick off St. Ambrose's Catholic Schools' Week activities!