Named a distinguished school for excellence in STEM education and preparing students for future careers
Chaminade Julienne Catholic School (CJ) has once again been named a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for the 2024-2025 school year. CJ is one of only 15 high schools in Ohio to receive this recognition. CJ earned this honor due to its commitment to inspiring and engaging students to unlock their potential through its PLTW Biomedical Science and Engineering program. PLTW is a national nonprofit organization that creates transformative learning experiences and empowers students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills for future careers.
The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, Chaminade Julienne had to meet multiple criteria during the 2023-24 school year, including the number of PLTW courses available to students and the percentage of students taking more than one PLTW course. During the 2024-2025 school year, 62 biomedical and 56 engineering students were enrolled in CJ’s PLTW program. 
“We are excited to be recognized again this year,” said Amy O’Loughlin, PLTW department chair. “We are proud of our Project Lead the Way program because our students are well-prepared for college courses with hands-on experiences where they problem solve real-world experiences.”
Greg Mueller, principal, said, “This award represents sustained excellence by our teachers and our students and a deep commitment to providing the best STEM education in the region. CJ’s PLTW-trained teachers in engineering and biomedical sciences continue to prepare our students for success in their future STEM career paths. It’s part of what makes CJ excellent!”
A Legacy of STEM Leadership
Chaminade Julienne implemented Project Lead the Way coursework during the 2008-2009 school year. The vision for a comprehensive STEM program was first led by John Marshall, current director of development and former CJ principal.
“Through our relationship with the University of Dayton, we saw where STEM education was headed with pre-engineering and biomedical programming,” said Marshall, director of development and former CJ principal. “We wanted to be a leader in STEM education both regionally and nationally. After researching several options, PLTW was the leader in a national curriculum aligned with CJ’s mission and vision.”
As principal, Marshall sought out well-qualified STEM teachers and formed an advisory board to bring CJ’s Project Lead the Way to reality. The program is in its sixteenth year, offering students the opportunity to take four years of career readiness courses in either the Engineering or Biomedical fields.
According to Marshall, CJ prioritized this programming as an elective option for our students. Within four years, CJ became the second Catholic High school in the country to achieve dual certification in pre-engineering and biomedical programming. A few years later, the school built the CJ STEMM labs as part of the LIFT capital campaign.
Marshall said, “Having the right people craft and execute strategies to advance the CJ STEMM (2nd M for medical) has been a significant aspect of the program’s success.”
What Makes CJ’s PLTW Program Stand Out?
According to O’Loughlin, PLTW Biomedical Science introduces high school students to the field of medicine and human body systems, as well as the vast array of careers in health science, biomedical science, and other medical fields. PLTW Engineering empowers high school students to step into the role of an engineer and adopt a problem-solving mindset. In both programs, students have a chance to explore these STEM fields through real-life activities.
“I have heard of students taking engineering classes in college without knowing what engineering is all about,” said O’Loughlin. “CJ’s PLTW program prepares our students for college and beyond by not only incorporating STEM skills into their learning but also building students’ collaboration, teamwork, and communication skills.”
Adelyn Woessner ’26, a CJ’s Project Lead the Way’s biomedical science student, has always had a love of science.
“Science has always fascinated me. I’ve been curious for as long as I can remember,” Woessner said. “This program gave me the chance to explore that curiosity in new and exciting ways, from learning how the human body works to dissecting organs and using specialized equipment. These hands-on classes help me see just how much is possible through STEM.”