Innovation

Upper School

Lake Highland students encounter a myriad of opportunities to develop creative problem-solving skills that uniquely prepare them for careers of the future. By exploring the latest innovations in science and technology, Highlanders engage their curiosity through hands-on learning experiences and enriching co-curricular activities. As leaders of instruction, LHP faculty members frequently participate in professional development to remain at the cutting edge of innovation.

Robotics

A competitive extension of the robotics curriculum, Highlander HAZMAT Robotics teams strategize, design, build, program, and operate robots to problem-solve. In addition to enhancing creativity, cooperative learning, and STEM skills, teams create business proposals, fundraise, market their ideas, and engage community partners.

Recent accomplishments include:

Top 2.5% in the world among 4,604 teams
Inspire Award at Tesla League Championship – the highest judged award presented to a FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics team
First Place Robot at Tesla League Championship Competition
First Place Robot Design Award – presented to teams for incorporating industrial design principles into their robot, striking a balance between form, function, and aesthetics
Third Place Rockwell Collins Innovative Robot Design Award – presented to teams that use ingenuity and invention to make their designs come to life
Third Place Promote Award – presented to the teams that are most successful in creating a compelling video message for the public designed to change our culture and celebrate science, technology, engineering and math
Third Place Motivate Award – presented to teams that represents the essence of the FIRST Tech Challenge competition through team building, team spirit and displayed enthusiasm

Advanced STEM Program Emphasizing Internship and Research Experiences (ASPIRE)

ASPIRE matches highly motivated science and math students in the Upper School with leading researchers and professionals at research facilities in Central Florida. Under the direction of professional mentors, students gain first-hand analytical and research skills comparable to those learned by undergraduate- and graduate- level students. These in-depth partnership studies have resulted in:

Scientific discoveries
Highlanders listed as co-authors of articles in professional science journals
Presentations to scientific research panels

Lake Highland’s uniquely skilled ASPIRE students win a significant number of top awards each year in local, regional, national, and international STEM competitions.

Upper School student placing petri dish in incubator