It’s not every day that college students are asked to walk on water, but for a group of 鶹 STEM scholars, that challenge was all part of their summer research experience.
Led by Dr. Christopher Sheil, Professor of Biology at John Carroll, students tackled the engineering challenge of designing devices to walk the length of JCU’s Johnson Natatorium pool without getting soaked.
“What I loved about this challenge was seeing students go from hesitation to determination,” said Dr. Sheil. “By the end, they weren’t afraid to fail, test, and try again, and that’s the heart of scientific discovery.”
The “Walking on Water Challenge” was a highlight of JCU’s National Science Foundation S-STEM INSPIRED Summer Bridge Program, a two-week immersive experience that took place from Sunday, July 27 through Saturday, August 9, 2025. This summer’s cohort included 10 scholars, who will join 12 students from the class before them. One more cohort will be recruited next year as part of the program’s final phase for the Class of 2030.
Throughout the experience, students engaged in programming geared toward acclimating them to college life at JCU. Scholars explored campus resources such as the Learning Commons and Grasselli Library, met with staff from JCU’s Center for Service-learning and Social Action (CSSA), and worked with consultants from the writing center to practice developing their writing skills. They also took field trips around the Cleveland area, engaging in activities like Wade Oval Wednesday and hikes in the Metroparks.
For many students, these experiences were just as impactful as the research challenges.
“During the Summer Bridge program I gained extremely valuable information such as the values and services John Carroll provides, how to act as a professional in the STEM field, and how to design and explain a scientific device,” said Quinlan Bulick ’29. “With all of this knowledge, I was also able to settle comfortably into college life and be a part of a really good group of people.”
Joshua Wieland ’29 shared a similar takeaway: “The Summer Bridge Program taught me how to work better with others, manage my time, and make and present a scientific poster. Not only did I learn how to succeed in an academic or professional environment, I also learned about various offices and organizations on campus that can support me throughout my four years here at JCU. This scholarship has given me a great cohort of peers that I can also rely on and go to for support. Overall, the opportunities and experiences I got from this scholarship were unmatched and I am very grateful for it."
For Logan Booker ’29, the program’s combination of STEM challenges and community-building made a lasting impression.
“I learned how to design, build, and test a prototype for a project and why it's so useful to do so,” said Booker. “Being in the INSPIRED program means being in a small, tight-knit community that's there for you in all aspects of college life. Whether it's for my STEM classes or social life, working with my INSPIRED peers made me feel included.”
The Summer Bridge Program is part of a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to fund the . The grant supports STEM students through both financial aid and holistic support, including mentoring, academic skill-building, and social-emotional support.
The S-STEM INSPIRED program is led by Dr. Pamela Vanderzalm, who oversees the overall grant. Together with faculty and staff, the team is committed to ensuring that each scholar has the resources and opportunities to thrive.
“This grant is more than just scholarships. It’s allowed us to create a whole ecosystem of support for STEM students,” said Dr. Vanderzalm. “From mentoring and community-building to academic preparation, we’re helping students get off to a great start through the Summer Bridge Program and sustain that momentum through graduation.”