06/02/2026
Humans of Manchester
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Shaelan Gara Grady -- MHS Senior
Shaelan spent three months this year on a research project that looked at how different presentation styles influence student engagement in math classes. She observed and collected data from two different MHS math classes, conducted statistical analyses, and when she presented her findings at the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair, was named a Life Science finalist and the winner of the Urban School Challenge award. “Working on the project taught me a lot about classroom dynamics, student-teacher interactions, and the overall research process, especially data collection, analysis, and experimental design,” said Shaelan, who in the fall will be studying psychology at Northeastern University in Boston. “Overall, it was an incredibly valuable and fun experience.” Thursday night, Shaelan will be presenting her work at the annual MHS Science Research Symposium (it’s in the cafeteria from 5-8 p.m.) and Dr. Kaitlin Levesque is among those who is especially proud. “It has been such a pleasure to be a part of Shaelan's journey, and to witness her mature into a self-assured young adult,” said Dr. Levesque, who as Shaelan’s school counselor has observed her ability to both question the minute details of a subject while also ensuring she understands the overall big picture. Shaelan says that 10 years from now she hopes to have earned a doctoral degree and embarked on a research-based career while being surrounded by a great community and also doing lots of travel. Said Dr. Levesque: “I am so excited to see what Shaelan accomplishes and how she makes a profound and positive mark on the world.”