Alverno Seniors Stave Off Senioritis With Focused Study on New Topic

As graduation looms, many high school seniors find it hard to keep their minds on academics. Well aware of this pattern, instituted Senior Projects some years ago. Over the years, the program has blossomed to include presentations to the student body, a panel of judges and prizes, according to Cynthia Cales, Senior English teacher at the school.

“The girls have to learn how to do something completely new and document the process. The current class is very creative so I am looking forward to seeing what they have done.” Alverno Admissions Director Candace Sieglesaid regarding the enormous undertaking for each of the 41 seniors doing projects.

On May 17, the projects were displayed at Alverno’s Villa, then judged on originality, difficulty, mastery of the project or topic and the student’s ability to display the project visually, demonstrate understanding and their accomplishment in the topic and to speak articulately about it.

Creativity and diversity were keywords among the projects, with topics including  belly dancing, recycling, web design, dolphin study at San Diego’s Sea World, delving into Spanish ethnic cuisine and cooking, shadowing a physical therapist and an equine veterinarian.

While many of the students identified a topic of interest that will be a lifelong hobby pursuit, others felt the project allowed them to feel more comfortable about a planned college major. Still, others found the project helped them to realize that while their interest in the chosen subject remained strong, it might not be their desired course of study of career path.

On May 18, the winners were announced by Wendy M. Finch-Burk, Director of Development and Alumnae Relations:

1^st Place ($150): Kelly Shunn for her Green Peace: The Campus Garden, a landscape project on school grounds using low water plants and succulent vegetation, including agave and flax. 

2^nd Place ($100): Ashley Zika, for her “Dreaming Couture: Every Dress Has a Story” project.

 3^rd Place ($75): Christina Lopez for “The Life of a Teenage Mother”  

4^th Place ($50): Regina Cabrera for her “50 Golden Years” project which featured the first five decades of Alverno High School.

In addition, six  other students also received Honorable Mention including Sascha Rosemond, Bianca Melkonian,  Maryanne Householder, Alexandra Shoji, America Molgado and Sahhara Assafiri.

“This fits in so nicely with our Alverno mission; to empower each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be,” Siegle said in summation.