Senior Capstone

Senior Capstone at Woodlawn is a nine month field-based inquiry project where students immerse themselves in the research of any one topic of their choosing. They are encouraged to pick a topic or passion of personal interest that has many avenues through which to explore. Once they narrow their interests down, they come up with a ‘big question’ and/or problem to investigate. Students are guided in: doing field research, connecting their project back to the community, applying their findings to the execution of a culminating presentational product, and documenting the project process.

Overview

• Students are set up with a scaffolded ‘framework’ that includes objectives, benchmarks, and monthly deadlines.
• Students meet with a teacher advisor throughout the nine-month process plus find a personal mentor to converse with regularly about their project.
• Towards the end of the process, internships around the research are arranged and completed by the students.
• All presentations of products take place in May of the Senior year. The final presentation should demonstrate the student’s mastery level of their topic.

2021 Senior Capstones:

“I’m researching the history of the campus around the 19th century.”

Andrew will be attending University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I learned how to use music principles to help myself and others through methods such as making playlists and playing instruments.”

Alyssa will be attending Berklee College of Music.

“I research how factors such as race, education level, and socioeconomic status impact our health and the care accessible to us.”

Arielle will be attending Davidson College.

“I have been observing. Taking the time and realizing the hustle of life through photography gave room to create unreal trails of images that give light to the “crack in the sidewalk” and express a story walked over by most. Removing myself from the flow of traffic has created interesting images that contain their own strange beauty to a variety of observers.”

Jackson will be attending Rollins College.

“I traced the ways effective scores are created through the usage of leitmotifs and their inherent relationship with viewing experiences.”

Lexi will be pursuing a GAP year.

“I discovered the effects of animal agriculture on earth today and learned why eating plant-based is the most sustainable diet for not only the environment but also one’s health.”

Ginger will be attending University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“For my capstone project, I have been researching prosthetics and their evolution. I have searched the history, what we have today, and what prosthetics will look like ten years from now. For my product I collaborated to make a 3d printed prosthetic leg.”

Sydgull will be attending Oglethorpe University.

“I focused on protest music in the black community in the U.S, and how it has evolved throughout time to help the black community and work to insight change and spread awareness of the inequalities that the community continue to face.”

Micah will be attending Loyola University, New Orleans.

“I learned about the theories of gender and sexuality, LGBT people as a group, and what people experience with their gender.”

Erin will be attending the University of Pittsburgh.

“I explored the art of radio production, while focusing the theme of every episode on whatever is peaking my interest. Each episode stars a guest, a new topic, and a laid-back conversational style.”

Crandall will be attending Kenyon College.

“I explore why the impact of robots on our daily lives, effective design and mechanics, and why you should join a robotics team.”

Ben will be attending Virginia Tech University.

“I discovered how trauma can affect our physical and mental health on a daily basis. Depression, schizophrenia, and other mental illness are major contributors to our physical health.”

Carmen will be attending University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“I researched the dangers of shark finning and what short and long term effects it has on not only our aquatic ecosystems but also on our own personal lives.”

Drake will be attending Pfeiffer University.

“I explore implicit biases embedded in journalistic articles, identify the ramifications of misleading content, inform American citizens of their significant role in the circulation of media, and, most importantly, advise how they can best prevent the spread of subjective media.”

Alexa will be attending Elon University.

“I have been doing research into the medical and psychiatric sides of substance abuse and its effects of people's lives.”

Aubrey will be attending Clemson University.

“I’m going over and educating on how to take care of your car to maximize its longevity.”

Christopher will be attending Central Piedmont Community College.

“I investigated corruption and financially predatory behaviors in the contemporary art market, what the art market is, and how people take advantage of young artists to make money.”

MacKenna will be attending School of the Art Institute, Chicago.

“I dive deep into the processes that make or break a novel medical device and the strategies to overcome inherent obstacles.”

Joey will be attending Haverford College.

“I reframe the modern eye and research context and language to understand past works such as The Odyssey in the same way that people from that era would experience them.”

Natalie will be attending Murray State University.