STEM

The annual Science Fair offers students the opportunity to experience the practices of science for themselves. Many of our students compete at a regional level and have won top spots! Stay tuned for this years science fair details. 

St. Thomas Aquinas School values STEM and promotes a collaborative focus on project based learning in science.  Students at St. Thomas Aquinas School has participated in the Central New Mexico Science and Research challenge for over 20 years.    Students from our school have placed in the top of the category for most, if not all, of the years with many students advancing to state (winning awards) and on one occasion as an observer to the International Science Fair.   In this time Mr. Eric Vigil, the middle school science teacher, has overseen about 2,000 projects making sure that all paperwork is completed and has served as a mentor to the students doing the research.   He has worked with many volunteers from the school serving as members of the combined SRC/IRB committee to review projects for prior approval.   For students doing vertebrate animal projects, Mr. Vigil acts as the liaison between these students and UNM's IACUC who approves all vertebrate animal research for this region of New Mexico.

In 2018, the competition was opened to 4th and 5th grade students with the help of Mrs. Lawton.   Since then, we have been able to send students in grades 4 and 5 along with middle school students to compete in the regional competition.  This year, we sent 17 students to compete with 7 students earning top of category awards between 2nd place and honorable mention.  Eleven students won "special awards" with combined prize money of almost $2000.  

In 2020, Mr. Vigil helped several students compete in the New Mexico SuperComputing Challenge.  This challenge gives students another opportunity to conduct research projects connecting with mentors from around the county.   In 2020-2021, the students won the "Magellan Award" by successfully completing their projects even under remote learning conditions.   In 2021, students were able to win top of category awards in this challenge as well.   This year, we have 2 students competing, one of which also won a special award in this year's regional science fair with her project.  

In the future, St. Thomas Aquinas hopes to add ongoing research opportunities for students in the field of robotics and coding along with natural sciences to better prepare them for their futures.

We are proud to recognize our 2026 students for their work on scientific research and their collaborative projects in the Central New Mexico Science and Research Challenge.

2026 Top of Category Prizes:

1st Place $500 - Public Service Company of NM, for Focus on Energy Sustainability, Affordability and Accessibility that Advance Renewable Energy Solutions. 
1st Place $35 and earned $25 towards teacher award for Eric Vigil - Regional Research Challenge, for Outstanding Middle School Project. 

1st Place $50 -  A2CE Award for Innovativeness, for Displaying Innovativeness and a Creative Approach to Answering Scientific Questions. 
1st Place $25 - Enlace Statewide Collaborative Excellence Award, for Excellence in Environmental Category.
1st Place $100 - GroundWater Partners, for Outstanding Project Demonstrating Innovation in Promoting Sustainability In Environment and Geosciences. 

1st Place $250 - Goodman Realty Award, for Excellence in Engineering, Energy, and Environmental Science. 

1st Place in Junior Division Energy & Transportation.

Advance to the State Science Fair at NM Tech:

One of our STAS students placed 3rd overall in Engineering at the State Science Fair.