As the year comes to an end, finals draw near, papers are due and graduation is in sight. Only one thing stands in the way of this occasion: the senior project. This annual event, which occurred on May 11 and 12, tests the nerves of seniors and stands as the last obstacle between them and the end of high school.
The students, working in groups of two, three or individually, aim to complete the assignment’s many aspects when presenting both sides of a controversial topic. The project includes research, opinion and interviews. In the end, a pass or fail decision is made by a panel of judges.
Academic Adviser Molly Sargent heads the senior project. The multi-purpose project stands in place of the California High School Exit Exam, she says.
“We wanted something that is a little more thoughtful [than an exam],” Sargent said. “We wanted something that requires analytical thinking [and] incorporates academic knowledge as well as spiritual growth. It shows us whether they have learned what we are trying to teach them.”
This year, students are covering topics such as abortion, evolution, homosexuality and abstinence. Kelsey Gunner and her two partners, Cassidy Hutchins and