Extracurricular research in undergraduate education is a high impact practice supported by many institutions and a valuable way for students to learn and set themselves apart. Starting out in a new institution without senior faculty or on-going projects limited the view students had of career options available and a left a void for students with aspirations of graduate programs. With the need for opportunities the next several years were spent building an undergraduate research laboratory where both existing and new projects could be shaped along with a culture of mentor and peer support. Research programs were built around applied topics students were motivated to learn with and develop their own lines of interest and build sub-projects into the larger work which are tied to future interests. Expected and unexpected factors have led to this endeavor growing to a group of about a dozen current students. Over the course of the presentation, we will discuss the growth of students from early introduction in projects to the self-led capstone projects they have been able to accomplish. A look at how to recruit and retain students within the lab and even the importance of letting them leave to explore other areas.  Ultimately, more students are finding they have opportunities in the mental health field with and without graduate school as they find success in research.