A brief overview of how posters and research was set up at the Lakeland Regional High School Annual Science Symposium set up for the competition. (LRHS)

Lakeland Regional High School hosted The Lakeland Regional High School Annual Science Symposium (LRHSASS) on April 10, 2025. The symposium served as a chance for LRHS students part of the University Program at Lakeland (UPAL) along with students from other schools that had completed a scientific research project to compete and showcase their scientific research through projects.

Students participating in the LRHSASS were tasked with conducting original scientific research, presenting their results through detailed presentations, and interacting with professionals and judges in the scientific field. Mr. Jaroslaw Slusarczyk, Director of UPAL at LRHS, has said that the reason for the symposium being a competition is to add an “exciting, real-world edge to the experience, motivating students to push the boundaries of their research.”

The projects were presented to peers, educators, industry professionals, and members of the community. All projects are judged against others within the same subject and based on the creativity, presentation, and research.

To take part in the Science Symposium, students needed to carry out an independent scientific research project that showcased strong academic challenge, creative thinking, and thorough subject knowledge. The event was open to participants from Lakeland and other neighboring high schools including Fair Lawn, Pascack Hills, Pascack Valley, Kinnelon, and more in hopes to expand the sharing of ideas and inspire cooperation along with healthy academic rivalry.

The outcome of the Science Symposium has reflected and highlighted how accomplished Lakeland’s science program is, and how dedicated the students are, along with their mentors. Mr. Slusarczyk says, “Lakeland students have truly led the way at this year’s Science Symposium, earning recognition for some of the most impressive and highest-judged projects. Their presentations stood out for their depth of research, innovation and professionalism.”

Overall, the LRHSASS was successful outside of the actual results of the competition. Collaboration and strong industry networking brought the event to life and allowed STEM professionals to serve as judges and mentors providing enhancement of the students’ educational experience. In general, support from the school played a large part in the symposium by providing space and funding for the competition itself. Students were able to confidently present their research to professionals, which would not have been possible without being given the opportunity to have access to a real-world experience, strong mentorship, and support from others.

Feedback from the Science Symposium was overwhelmingly positive, with students expressing appreciation for the opportunity to show off their research, engage with industry professionals, and work on their communication skills. A highlight of the event was seeing students confidently share their work with experts, which is a success that comes from strong mentorship and a supportive team. However, organizers noted some areas for improvement, such as increasing participation from universities and expanding involvement from a wider range of industries to provide more networking opportunities and exposure to real-world applications.

In hopes of more symposia in the future, the challenge will be to build on this success by broadening academic and professional engagement, further boosting the experience for students, and strengthening their paths into STEM fields.