Project Lead the Way
Supporting St. Louis High School STEM Students Through Scholarships and Capstone Excellence
BioSTL’s Education to Workforce team leads the St. Louis region’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) scholarship competition, connecting high school STEM students with industry, mentorship, and real-world opportunities.
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a national STEM curriculum that delivers hands-on, project- and problem-based learning for elementary, middle, and high school students. In the St. Louis region, BioSTL supports PLTW students by elevating their capstone work through scholarship competitions, professional feedback, and public showcase opportunities.
Through coursework in engineering, biomedical sciences, and cybersecurity, students build real-world skills that prepare them for college, the workforce, or advanced training programs.
Kick Off Event (In Person)
October 14, 2025
Our in-person annual kick-off event offers students the opportunity to network with industry and academia mentors, receive feedback on their capstone projects from experts, participate in a breakout session focused on best practices for applying for summer internships, and more. Teachers can register their classes starting August 15th, 2025.
Z-Fairs Q&A Session (Virtual)
April 7, 2026
A live session to answer last-minute questions about submissions and navigating the Z-Fairs platform. The meeting link will be shared closer to the event.
Submission Deadline
April 12, 2026 - Final Day to Submit
All projects, essays, internship reflections, and videos must be submitted through Z-Fairs for scholarship consideration. Must be submitted by 11:59 pm.
Senior Showcase
April 24, 2026
Graduating PLTW students present their capstone projects to peers, educators, industry leaders, family, and community members. Scholarship winners are announced at this annual celebration.
2025–2026 Scholarship Competitions
Capstone Project Scholarships
Eligible Students:
High school juniors and seniors enrolled in St. Louis metropolitan PLTW capstone courses, including:
- Biomedical Innovation
- Engineering Design and Development
- Cybersecurity
Students may submit their capstone projects through Z-Fairs for scholarship consideration.
PLTW Experience & Internship Scholarships
Eligible Students:
High school seniors only
Students may submit:
- A PLTW reflection essay or video
- An internship reflection
Deadline: April 12, 2026, at 11:59 PM via Z-Fairs.
Volunteer Opportunities
Industry professionals play a critical role in supporting the next generation of STEM talent.
Volunteers may:
- Serve as guest speakers (virtual or in-person)
- Mentor high school students or classrooms
- Judge scholarship submissions
- Host job shadowing experiences or site visits
- Attend the Senior Showcase to provide project feedback
Join our volunteer network to support PLTW students across the St. Louis region.
Teacher & Student Resources
PLTW Teacher Resources
Teacher Directories
- Class Speaker Directory
- Student and Class Mentor Directory
- Educator Community STEM Resource Directory
- PLTW Educator Resources Directory
Scholarship Competition Rubrics
The following rubrics are available to view and download HERE
- Best Overall Biomedical Science
- Biomedical Science Innovation
- Best Overall Engineering
- Engineering Innovation
- PLTW Experience
Example Scholarship Winning Projects
- Best Overall Biomedical Science: Rehabilitation Reinvented
- Biomedical Science Innovation: NouriSip
- Engineering Innovation: Cable Retractor/Organizer
- PLTW Experience: Video
Zfairs Tutorials
The following tutorials are available to help teachers navigate Zfairs.
- Zfairs Teacher: Creating a New Teacher Account
- Zfairs Teacher: Teacher Login and Finding Rubrics
- Zfairs Teacher: Student Account Management
- Zfairs Student: Creating a New Student Account
- Zfairs Student: Student Login and Finding Rubrics
- Zfairs Student: Project and Essay Uploading
Zfairs Tutorials for Students
The following tutorials are available to assist students in navigating Zfairs.
- Zfairs: Create a Student Account
- Zfairs: Login and Finding Rubrics
- Zfairs: Upload your Project and Essay
Zfairs Tutorial for Judges
The following tutorial is available to assist judges in navigating Zfairs.
Support Our Efforts
BioSTL connects engineering and biomedical professionals with PLTW students to strengthen classroom learning and capstone development. Volunteers help students refine projects, explore career pathways, and build confidence in professional settings.
Interested in supporting PLTW students in the St. Louis region? Sign up to get involved.