CULMINATING PROJECT PUTS HATBORO-HORSHAM SENIOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT

HORSHAM---Until his junior year at Hatboro-Horsham High School, senior Joe Lee had never taken a computer programming class. Lee, a quick study with a keen interest in the process, eventually selected programming as the focus of his senior culminating project. After applying almost 150 hours to the assignment, Lee designed a gaming tutorial that caught the attention of Unity programmers. The tutorial is currently available on the company’s website.

Hatboro-Horsham High School requires that seniors complete a culminating project to ensure that they can effectively apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information and communicate significant knowledge, thereby demonstrating their proficiency with skills essential for 21st century careers. The senior culminating project encourages students to weave together a deep exploration of an area of interest with the research, writing, organization and presentation skills that they have developed during their high school years.

According to Terri Stern, Hatboro-Horsham business computer teacher, Lee conceived the game idea and ran with it. “It has been very exciting to watch Joe work diligently to apply his skills to bring this idea to fruition,” said Stern.

Hatboro-Horsham High School Principal Dennis Williams emphasized, “We are so proud of Joe’s accomplishment considering he had no prior programing experience. He has come a long way since his junior year and we wish to acknowledge his hard work.”

Unity’s leadership team was very impressed with Lee’s game, which is why it is available as a tutorial on the website. Unity is a cross-platform game creation system developed by Unity Technologies, which is used to develop video games for websites, desktop platforms and mobile devices. It is also the platform that Hatboro-Horsham High School uses for video game programing. The link to Lee’s game, Survival Shooter, can be found at http://unity3d.com/learn/tutorials/modules.