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Students Lead the Way: Campo Verde Seniors Take Ownership of PLTW Showcase

Students Lead the Way: Campo Verde Seniors Take Ownership of PLTW Showcase
Tristan Chavez
A group of five young women, dressed in pink and black, are gathered around a table in a cozy, well-decorated room with framed artwork on the walls.

At Campo Verde High School, seniors in the Biomedical Sciences (BioMed) program didn’t just show up for a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Showcase - they took ownership of it and made it their own. What began as a simple idea from their teacher became a fully student-led event that highlighted not just their projects, but the initiative, leadership, and teamwork skills they’ve gained along the way.

Project Lead the Way is a hands-on program that connects classroom learning to real-world STEM and medical careers. At Campo Verde High, that commitment to real-world learning took center stage during a student-led Showcase that brought the Biomedical Sciences curriculum to life. Following the event, attendees were invited into the BioMed classroom for a student panel, where program leaders shared their experiences, answered questions, and reflected on how the program has prepared them for their future. 

What made Campo Verde’s Showcase special wasn’t just the presentations or displays—it was the ownership students took in making it happen. Seniors planned, organized, and led the event themselves, preparing exhibits, coordinating demonstrations, and explaining how the BioMed program has influenced their future. "BioMed is the most important program to us. We've been in it together every year, so we know the ins and outs of it really well. We felt that seniors would be best to showcase the program, so we took ownership of it," said Audrey Yabut, a Senior at Campo Verde.

The  BioMed program at Campo Verde High includes four years of hands-on coursework. By their senior year, students take on a capstone project that challenges them to research and address a real-world medical problem. During their research, students work alongside professionals in the field, gaining mentorship and experience that helps build confidence and clarity about their futures. “We do a lot of research in different databases, so we learn to dissect complicated medical research papers, just like we will have to in college. It also helps us connect with real professionals who can support us and be our mentors," said Riley Swezey, a Senior at Campo Verde and President of the BioMed Club.

“A lot of what we do in the program is what you do in college," added Addison Musa, a Senior at Campo Verde. "I feel really well-prepared in that regard. Some of us already work as lab assistants, so we also already have jobs going into college."

Two young women are engaged in an activity, surrounded by various objects and shelves in what appears to be an educational or creative setting.

For some, the Showcase was also a chance to promote their program to more students. Seniors encourage incoming Campo Verde High freshmen to join the four-year program, knowing the lessons and skills they’ve gained will carry over to any path they choose. “If you're interested in it, join the program and see what it's about. I'm not sure if I fully want to go into the medical field, but I still really like being in the program because I get to learn things I wouldn't be able to elsewhere, and a lot of the skills we learn can be applied in different places," said Madison Sanders, a Senior at Campo Verde.

Students at Desert Ridge Junior, Greenfield Junior, and South Valley Junior High can begin  STEM pathways through Project Lead the Way Gateway courses, which build a foundation for programs like BioMed at the high school level. Each of these junior high schools offers Gateway courses in design, modeling, and robotics. The junior highs also consider programs available at feeder high schools to ensure students are prepared for advanced coursework later on. For example, South Valley students can take the Medical Detectives Gateway course, which directly connects to the BioMed curriculum at Campo Verde High.

Gilbert Public Schools is committed to preparing future-ready graduates. Many of the seniors interviewed shared plans to continue their studies or begin careers in STEM fields. To learn more about how Gilbert Public Schools supports students in preparing for high school and beyond, visit GilbertSchools.net/Thrive.