(05/10/2024) Each year, students enrolled in the Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering programs at Coon Rapids High School (CRHS) complete their time in each program with senior capstone projects.

CRHS seniors in both the biomedical and engineering programs will present their final projects on May 20, but on May 6, students had the opportunity to present their work to employees at Medtronic during a half-day learning experience at the worldwide medical device company’s Mounds View campus. View photos of students presenting their capstone projects at Medtronic.

“In the biomedical program at CRHS, we highlight the importance of teamwork and being innovative in our experiments,” Kaylee Smith, a senior at CRHS said. “Being able to share our work with Medtronic employees was really beneficial to see how they viewed our project and to see how it relates to the work they do.”

Smith was recently hired as an intern by Medtronic in the material engineering department and she will spend her summer learning more about the medical device industry.

“I’m super excited to really see what Medtronic is all about and learn more about the company,” Smith said. “I learned a lot about different innovations and interventions of biomedicine in the biomedical program at CRHS and I think that being able to have an internship at Medtronic will be a really cool way to see real-life innovations with technology.”

Smith will attend Saint Mary’s University in Winona this fall where she plans to major in biology. She is looking forward to continuing her passion for science which grew throughout her time in the biomedical program at CRHS. 

“Being a part of the biomedical program at CRHS has helped me learn leadership and collaboration skills and how to work with a team,” Smith said. “The program helped me grow my interest in the medical field.”

Smith also appreciated the opportunities — such as visiting Medtronic — the biomedical program provided her as a student throughout her four years.

After sharing their work, students toured the facility to learn more about Medtronic’s laboratories and medical device engineering tools. The day concluded with students hearing from Medtronic employees about their experiences working for Medtronic and their journeys into the medical device industry.

CRHS biomedical and engineering students will present their final senior capstone projects at an event on May 20.