senior capstone project high school

A Comprehensive Guide on High School Senior Capstone Projects (With Examples)

Reviewed by:

Rohan Jotwani

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 3/8/24

As you near the end of your high school journey, it's time to explore the world of senior capstone projects.

If you're a high school student, especially in your senior year, you're likely gearing up for the culmination of your academic journey: the senior capstone project. 

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about capstone projects, complete with examples to spark your inspiration and help you succeed. Whether you're just starting to explore project ideas or fine-tuning your plans, you've come to the right place!

What Is a Capstone Project?

A capstone project is like the grand finale of your academic or personal journey. It's a focused effort that you tackle within a set timeframe, bringing together everything you've learned or accomplished. Unlike a passion project , which you can work on whenever you feel like it, a capstone project has a clear deadline.

For instance, let’s say you're a culinary arts student nearing graduation. Your passion lies in sustainable cooking practices, and for your capstone project, you decide to create a cookbook featuring locally sourced, eco-friendly recipes. 

Your cookbook project demands months of research, recipe development, testing, and layout design. It's a big commitment that demonstrates your expertise in culinary arts and your dedication to sustainable food practices.

Similarly, in school, a capstone project could take various forms, such as conducting research on a scientific topic, developing a business plan, or creating a multimedia presentation. These projects all reflect your broader interests and passions, demonstrating your skills and knowledge in a specific area.

Overall, your capstone project in high school is a major milestone, allowing you to demonstrate your expertise, creativity, and dedication. It's a chance to bring everything you've learned together and show what you're capable of achieving.

Different Between Capstone and Passion Project

Capstone projects are typically a mandatory part of a school or college program. They're serious business involving thorough research, problem-solving, and often collaboration with teachers or experts. The goal is to demonstrate your mastery of the subject matter and readiness to tackle real-world challenges.

On the other hand, passion projects are all about following your interests and doing something you love. You could focus on writing a novel, starting a community project, or diving into a hobby—passion projects are driven by personal motivation rather than academic requirements. They're more flexible and allow you to explore your passions on your own terms.

So, while both capstone and passion projects are valuable ways to dive deep into a topic you're passionate about, capstone projects are more structured and tied to academic goals, while passion projects offer more freedom and personal expression.

How to Find Ideas for Capstone Project

Looking for capstone project ideas? Let's take a look at some effective strategies to spark inspiration and find the perfect project for you.

Follow Your Interests

Think about what excites you the most. Do you love helping the environment or dreaming up better ways to teach? Pick a topic that really speaks to you. When you're passionate about what you're working on, you'll stay motivated and focused from start to finish.

Use What You've Learned

Consider the subjects you've learned in school. Think about how you can use that knowledge to solve real-life issues. For example, if you've studied marketing, you could create a marketing plan for a nearby business. Or, if you're good at finance, you could analyze a company's finances and propose ways to make them better.

Don't hesitate to reach out to your professors, advisors, or mentors for guidance. They've been through similar experiences and can offer valuable insights and suggestions. They might even be able to connect you with industry contacts or organizations that could provide support or resources for your project. Their feedback can help you refine your ideas and ensure you're on the right track.

Check Feasibility

As you narrow down your options, it's crucial to assess the feasibility of each potential project idea. Consider factors such as the availability of resources, the complexity of the task, and your own time constraints. 

While you want to choose a project that's challenging and meaningful, it's also essential to be realistic about what you can accomplish within the given timeframe. Setting achievable goals will increase your chances of success and prevent unnecessary stress along the way.

Identify Current Issues

Keep up to date with the latest news and trends in your field of study or topics that interest you. Identify important issues or new challenges that you could focus on for your capstone project. By addressing relevant and current topics, you can actively contribute to important discussions and possibly have a bigger impact with your project.

Consider Community Needs

Consider the issues that matter most to your local community or a specific group of people. Is there a problem or something missing that you could help with through your project? By talking to people in your community through volunteer work or doing surveys, you can find project ideas that match real needs and make a positive impact.

Broaden Your Horizons

Think outside the box! Don't stick to just one subject for your capstone project. Instead, think about how you can mix ideas from different areas. By combining different perspectives, you can come up with creative and innovative solutions that you might not have thought of otherwise. This can make your project stand out and bring new insights to your work.

Look for Inspiration from Previous Projects

When searching for ideas for your capstone project, take a look at projects completed by students who came before you. Looking at successful past projects can give you helpful ideas about topics, methods, and how big your project should be. 

Remember, it's important not to copy someone else's work exactly, but you can use it to inspire your own unique ideas and ways of doing things.

Think About Long-Term Goals

Think about how your capstone project can help you achieve your long-term goals, both in school and beyond. Are there particular skills you want to improve or experiences you want to have during the project? By making sure your project connects to your bigger plans, you can make it even more meaningful and helpful for your future journey.

Stay Flexible and Open-Minded

Stay open to exploring new directions and adjusting your project as you learn and receive feedback. Sometimes, the best projects come from unexpected changes or improvements along the way. Stay flexible and welcome the chance to learn and develop throughout your capstone project. 

By blending your interests, what you've learned in school, and advice from mentors, you can create a capstone project that shows off your abilities and makes a difference in your field or community.

Tips on How to Execute Capstone Project

Ready to tackle your capstone project head-on? Here are some practical tips to guide you through the execution process smoothly.

Junior Fall

Brainstorm Ideas : This is your chance to explore a wide range of topics and ideas that pique your interest. Consider what issues or subjects you're passionate about, what challenges you want to address, or what questions you want to explore further. Keep an open mind and jot down any potential project ideas that come to mind, even if they seem unconventional at first.

Set Goals : Once you've generated some project ideas, it's time to clarify your objectives. Think about what you want to accomplish with your capstone project and break it down into smaller, actionable goals. Consider both short-term goals, such as completing research or gathering resources, and long-term goals, such as presenting your findings or implementing a solution.

Junior Spring

Recruit and Fundraise : Depending on the scope of your project, you may need additional support from teammates or financial resources. Reach out to classmates, friends, or faculty members who share your interests and might be interested in collaborating on the project. Additionally, explore fundraising opportunities to secure funding for project-related expenses, such as materials, equipment, or travel.

Hit Milestones : As you begin working on your project, set specific milestones to track your progress and stay on schedule. These milestones could include completing research, conducting experiments or surveys, drafting project proposals or reports, or presenting preliminary findings to peers or advisors. Regularly assess your progress and adjust your approach as needed to ensure you're meeting your goals.

Rising Senior Summer

Stay Busy : Although summer break is a time for relaxation, don't let your momentum wane. Dedicate consistent time each week to work on your capstone project, whether it's conducting research, analyzing data, drafting project documents, or refining your presentation skills. Establish a schedule and stick to it to maintain progress and prevent last-minute rushes.

Stay Connected : While you may be physically distanced from campus during the summer months, stay connected with your advisors, mentors, or project collaborators through email, phone calls, or virtual meetings. Keep them updated on your progress, seek their input or feedback when needed, and leverage their expertise to overcome any challenges you encounter.

Senior Fall

Keep Pushing : As the new school year begins, ramp up your efforts and focus on achieving your project goals. Set new objectives for the upcoming semester and prioritize tasks that will bring you closer to project completion. If your project involves organizing events, conducting experiments, or presenting findings, plan and execute these activities with diligence and attention to detail.

Senior Spring

Plan Ahead : As you approach the final months of your capstone project, take time to reflect on your accomplishments and consider the next steps. Evaluate the impact of your project, gather feedback from stakeholders or participants, and identify any areas for improvement or follow-up activities. Prepare for project completion by documenting your findings, finalizing project deliverables, and communicating your results to relevant audiences.

By following these guidelines and staying committed to your goals, you'll be well-equipped to execute your capstone project successfully and make meaningful contributions to your field of study or community.

Common Mistakes

Let's take a look at nine common mistakes students make in their capstone projects, along with tips on how to sidestep them.

Choosing a Topic That’s Too Broad

Your topic should be relevant to your field of study, but many students make the mistake of selecting broad topics that lack focus. To avoid this, consult with professors or career advisors to narrow down your focus and ensure your topic is both relevant and manageable.

Choosing a Topic You Don’t Really Care About

Passion is key to success. If you're not genuinely interested in your topic, your motivation and enthusiasm will dwindle over time. Select a topic that excites you and aligns with your interests to stay engaged throughout the project.

Not Doing Your Research Properly

Research is the backbone of your project. Skipping this step or relying on inaccurate information can derail your project. Take the time to conduct thorough research, cite credible sources, and ensure the accuracy of your findings.

Not Writing Your Paper in the Correct Format

A well-structured paper is essential for clarity and coherence. Follow a standard format, including sections such as introduction, literature review, methods, results, and conclusion, to ensure your paper is organized and easy to follow.

Not Taking Advantage of All the Resources Available

Don't overlook the resources at your disposal, whether it's the library, the internet, peers, professors , or academic advisors. Utilize these resources for research, guidance, feedback, and support throughout your project.

Not Proofreading Thoroughly Enough

Typos, grammatical errors, and formatting inconsistencies can undermine the credibility of your project. Take the time to proofread your work multiple times, or enlist the help of a peer or professional proofreader to ensure your paper is error-free.

Forgetting to Reference Your Sources

Proper citation is essential to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original sources of information. Ensure you cite all sources accurately and consistently throughout your paper, following the required citation style guidelines.

Poor Presentation

Your presentation is the final show of your hard work. Neglecting to prepare adequately or rushing through your presentation can detract from the quality of your project. Practice your presentation, create engaging visuals, and rehearse your delivery to captivate your audience.

Waiting Until the Last Minute to Start Writing Your Paper

Procrastination is a common pitfall that can lead to rushed and subpar work. Start early, create a timeline, and break down your project into manageable tasks to avoid last-minute stress and ensure a polished final product.

By steering clear of these common mistakes and approaching your capstone project with diligence and dedication, you'll set yourself up for success and leave a lasting impression with your academic masterpiece.

Ideas and Examples of Capstone Projects

Need some capstone project ideas for high school? Let’s take a look at some high school capstone project examples. 

• Study green marketing strategies that promote sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Engineering

• Develop a system to detect red traffic lights using image processing for safer roads.
• Create a solar panel system with adjustable angles to maximize energy capture.
• Analyze how social media can be used to effectively engage and retain customers through content marketing strategies.
• Design educational programs for nurses on asthma care and point-of-care testing protocols for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Computer Science

• Develop a smartphone interface for managing medical records to improve accessibility and patient engagement.
• Design a web-based survey system for collecting feedback and analysis in academic or business settings.
• Evaluate the impact of project management practices on the success of political campaigns.
• Assess how technology influences accounting practices and the effectiveness of accounting software in improving financial reporting.
• Explore the benefits of virtual classrooms and digital engagement strategies for remote learning.

Information Technology

• Investigate cybersecurity issues and propose solutions to protect against threats like intrusion and data breaches.
• Create object recognition systems using machine learning for security surveillance and image analysis.

Looking to gain clarity on your senior capstone project? Here are some frequently asked questions to guide you through the process.

1. How Does a Capstone Project Differ from Other High School Projects?

A high school capstone project typically involves more in-depth research and interdisciplinary exploration compared to other projects.

2. How Do I Choose a Topic for My High School Capstone Project?

To choose a topic for your high school capstone project, consider your interests, skills, and academic goals, and seek advice from teachers or mentors.

3. Are High School Capstone Projects Required for Graduation?

High school capstone projects are not always required for graduation and can vary depending on the school or program.

4. Can High School Capstone Projects Be Related to Extracurricular Activities?

Yes, high school capstone projects can be related to extracurricular activities and allow students to integrate their interests and experiences into their academic projects.

Final Thoughts

In short, high school senior capstone projects are your chance to shine. By picking the right topic, steering clear of common pitfalls, and tapping into available resources, you can leave a lasting mark. Whether it's in marketing, engineering, education, or any other field, capstone projects let you show off your skills and get ready for what's next.

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Best Senior Project Ideas for High School Students + 42 Real Student Examples

A senior project is one of the best ways you can make your application stand out to top schools like Harvard and Stanford. It can tell your story beyond academics. It can demonstrate leadership, ambition, initiative and impact. And it can make an impact on the world.  

Choosing the right senior project can be tough. As a Former Johns Hopkins Admissions Officer and a Senior Strategist at Crimson, I’ve helped hundreds of students do it. In this post, I’ll show you my process for choosing a topic for your senior project. I’ll also show you real examples of senior projects that helped students get accepted to the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, Duke, and more.

What is a Senior Project?

A senior project is also known as a “capstone project.” It’s a long-term project in which you can explore a topic that interests you outside the classroom. It can take many different forms, including:

• A detailed research paper
• An art exhibition
• A tech invention
• A business or startup
• A community service project
• A social media channel or podcast 

It's all about picking something that resonates with you and showcases your abilities.

The impact of a well-done senior project extends beyond the classroom. It can enhance your college applications by showing your commitment and skills. It can set you apart in an application pool with thousands of academically qualified students. 

Finally, the experience and skills you gain from your senior project can be valuable in future careers.

What are the Benefits of a Senior Project?

Most students applying to Top 20 universities have strong grades and test scores. Academics are important, but they only get your foot in the door. To make your application stand out, you need impactful extracurriculars. This is where a senior project comes in. 

If you’re like most students applying, you won't already have a clear area of excellence in your application, like a national or international accolade. You’ll have to show your excellence in terms of the time and commitment you’ve given to their community. Senior projects are a great way to do this.

With a successful senior project, you can:

• Showcase personal qualities. Since a senior project is entirely yours, it showcases your ability to own and execute a unique project from start to finish. This shows leadership, initiative, and intellectual curiosity — qualities that admissions officers are looking for. A senior project can also show that you’re service-oriented, a creative thinker, looking for a challenge, and can overcome barriers.
• Demonstrate passion and dedication. A senior project shows that you’re passionate about a specific field and can commit to a long-term vision.
• Develop transferable skills. You’ll inevitably learn skills like time management, research, collaboration, or technical skills.
• Become an expert in the subject matter. By going deep into a topic, you’ll develop expertise that you might not get through passive learning.

Remember: Your senior project speaks volumes about who you are and why you deserve a place on campus!

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Best Senior Project Ideas

The best senior project ideas are long-term, unique to you, and measurably impactful. I’ll show you some specific examples of senior projects by students who were admitted to top schools. But first, here are some general ideas to get you thinking.

• Design and implement a community garden, teaching sustainable agriculture practices and providing fresh produce to local food banks.
• Start a state-wide traveling library that reaches underserved communities.
• Develop a series of workshops for senior citizens or underprivileged youth to teach them basic computer skills, internet safety, and how to use essential software.
• Create a campaign to promote environmental awareness and conservation efforts in your community, focusing on recycling, reducing plastic use, or conserving local wildlife habitats.
• Establish a mentorship program pairing high school students with elementary or middle school students to provide academic support, life advice, and positive role models.
• Organize a cultural awareness event that celebrates diversity through music, dance, food, and educational workshops, fostering a more inclusive community.
• Launch a mental health awareness campaign that includes workshops, guest speakers, and resources to destigmatize mental health issues among teenagers.
• Research and implement a small-scale renewable energy project, such as installing solar panels for a community center or designing a wind turbine model for school use.
• Conduct and record interviews with community elders or veterans to preserve local history, culminating in a public presentation or digital archive.
• Develop an art therapy program for children in hospitals or shelters, providing an outlet for expression and emotional healing through creative activities.
• Create a series of workshops for your community focusing on fitness, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices, including sessions on exercise and cooking.
• Design and lead a financial literacy course for high school students, covering budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding credit.
• Research and write a book or guide on the history of your town or a specific aspect of it, such as architectural landmarks, founding families, or significant events.
• Start a coding club for elementary or middle school students, teaching them the basics of programming through fun and interactive projects.
• Organize public speaking workshops for students, helping them build confidence and communication skills through practice and feedback.
• Coordinate a STEM fair to encourage girls in elementary and middle school to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on activities and demonstrations.
• Produce a documentary film that explores a social issue relevant to your community, such as homelessness, addiction, or education inequality.
• Lead a project to refurbish a local playground. Fundraise, design, and collaborate with city officials to provide a safe and enjoyable space for children.
• Set up an ESL (English as a Second Language) tutoring program for immigrants and refugees in your community to help them improve their English skills and better integrate into society.
• Design and implement an anti-bullying campaign for your school or community, including awareness activities, support resources, and strategies for prevention.
• Organize a sustainable fashion show that promotes eco-friendly fashion choices, upcycling, and local designers, raising awareness about the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
• Start a podcast, blog, Youtube channel, or social media channel about a topic that interests you. Aim to reach a national or international audience.
• Start a club at your school and build its impact beyond your own school ecosystem.
• Start a campaign around an issue you care about and create change at your school, like “Meatless Mondays.”
• Create a competition for innovative startups
• Develop a product or service and sell it online. Create a business plan, marketing materials, and a way to track your progress.
• Fundraise for an existing charity or nonprofit.
• Found a new charity or nonprofit.
• Create or raise money for a scholarship fund.

Successful Real Senior Project Examples

To help you get a clear picture of what your senior project could look like, I’m going to share some actual senior projects that Crimson students have done. Below are 13 real examples of senior projects by students who were accepted to top universities like MIT, Stanford the Ivy League, Johns Hopkins, and UC Berkeley.

Business & Finance 

Student accepted to mit.

Impact: Local

This student trained 24 unique groups (120+ people) to create innovative startups for 3 competitions. They also created a 15-lesson curriculum and online team-matching algorithm for the competitions.

Student accepted to Stanford

Impact: International

This student founded an organization to educate K–8 students on social entrepreneurship. It grew to 32 chapters with 12,453 members in 4 continents. It was endorsed by the UN, LinkedIn, and InnovateX.

Student accepted to UC Berkeley and USC

Inspired by a college business case competition, this student focused his senior project on creating a business competition for high school students. He invited students from 8 local high schools and had 500 participants. He also arranged judges from a widely-known bank and a university. To leave a lasting impact, he created an executive board within his high school so this event will continue after he graduates.

Social & Political Sciences

Student accepted to harvard.

This student created a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for equitable public speaking resources. They also held a public speaking-themed summer camp for 70+ students and raised $2,000 for a local speech center.

Student accepted to Yale

Impact: Statewide

This student coalesced over 15 assault prevention organizations to develop two bills for the 2023 Oregon legislative session. Their effort instituted a $20 million education grant program and youth network.

Medicine & Healthcare

Student accepted to brown.

Impact: National

This student produced and edited 140+ mental health articles to uplift youth. The articles got over 12,000 reads. The student also hosted a podcast interviewing women leaders with over 40 episodes.

Student accepted to Carnegie Mellon

Impact: Local and National

This student built a COVID outbreak detection platform with ML. It got over 10,000 views. They also prototyped a compact translation tool with Michigan hospitals for non-native English speakers.

This student designed a chemotherapy symptom-tracking app to improve treatment. They then pitched it to industry experts and won Best Elevator Pitch of over 70 teams.

Student accepted to Cornell and Johns Hopkins

This student knew she wanted to major in biomedical engineering. She created a children’s medical book series called “My Little Doctor” to teach young kids how to address emergencies, wounds, and household medications. The books included personal illustrations, which also showcased her artistic talent. The books were sold by 150 doctor’s offices throughout NYC.

Math & Computer Science

Student accepted to columbia.

This student programmed AI to patrol an endangered turtle nesting site using drones. They partnered with a resort, launched an open source platform, and expanded the project internationally.

Student accepted to Dartmouth

This student worked on the solidity development of crypto currencies, NFTs, DAOs, DApps. They were responsible for project, client, and social media management. They also supervised 3 employees.

This student created a virtual musical theater camp for kids ages 6-12 during the COVID-19 pandemic. They managed the camp’s Instagram, website, and Facebook. They taught 25 kids and produced 5 shows.

Student accepted to Harvard and Brown

This student founded an organization to make music education accessible. It included a lead team of 35 members. It grew to 9 branches in 7 countries, impacted 15,000 students online, taught 1.6k lessons, and saved parents $40K. It raises $10k annually. This student was a TD Scholarship Finalist, YODA, and SHAD Fellow.

What are the criteria for a successful senior project?

If you only take away one thing from this article, let it be this: The best senior projects are personal to you and have a measurable impact. When you are contemplating a senior project idea, ask yourself:

• “Am I interested in this topic?” As in, interested enough to spend the next year thinking a LOT about it.
• “Can I show a measurable impact with this project, preferably at the local, national, or international level?”

Let’s use tutoring as an example. Tons of students include tutoring on their applications as one of their extracurriculars. Does tutoring pass the test if we ask our two questions?

• Am I interested in the topic? If you’re tutoring in a subject you love, the answer could be a yes.
• “Can I show a measurable impact with this project?” This one is tricky. Of course, tutoring one or even a few students makes an impact on the lives of those students. But is the impact local, national, or international? Not exactly.

So instead of tutoring a few students on your own, maybe you can create a tutoring club with 30 tutors supporting 100 students at your school. If you want to expand your impact, you can bring your tutoring services into an elementary school or into other schools in your community. You can even create a charter and get your tutoring club into high schools throughout the country, world, or online.

By thinking bigger, you can turn most conventional extracurricular ideas into an impactful, standout senior project idea.

How to Choose a Topic for Your Senior Project

I’ve helped hundreds of students develop successful senior projects. This is the process we use:

• Make a list of your major interests. These could be academics, hobbies, anything! 
• Now write down problems or areas of exploration that relate to those interests.
• Narrow down your choices to one or two that are academically relevant, relevant to your interests and goals,  interesting enough for you to explore, and have enough published data.
• Identify a problem that you can address in this area with a solution that you identify. This will be the subject of your senior project!

Let’s walk through these steps using a hypothetical student as an example.

Senior Project Topic Brainstorm Example

• List interests.  

Maya is a junior with dreams of attending an Ivy League school. She's always been fascinated by environmental science, particularly renewable energy sources. She also enjoys coding and app development. Outside of academics, Maya volunteers at a local animal shelter and is an avid runner.

• List problems or areas of exploration related to those interests.  

For environmental science, Maya is concerned about the inefficiency of current solar panels in low-light conditions. 

In coding, she notes the lack of user-friendly apps that promote environmental awareness among teens. 

Her volunteering experiences make her wonder how technology can assist animal shelters in improving animal adoption rates.

• Narrow down the choices.

After considering her list, Maya decides to focus on environmental science and coding, as these are her academic interests and she sees herself pursuing them in the future. She finds the intersection of these fields particularly interesting and ripe for exploration. Plus, she discovers ample published data on renewable energy technologies and app development, confirming the feasibility of her project idea.

4. Identify a Problem and Solution

Maya identifies a specific problem: the gap in environmental awareness among her peers and the lack of engaging tools to educate and encourage sustainable practices. She decides to address this by developing a mobile app that gamifies environmental education and sustainability practices, targeting high school students.

Senior Project: EcoChallenge App Development

Maya's senior project, the "EcoChallenge" app, aims to make learning about environmental science fun and actionable. The app includes quizzes on environmental topics, challenges to reduce carbon footprints, and a feature to track and share progress on social media, encouraging collective action among users.

Project Execution

Over the course of her junior year, Maya dedicates herself to researching environmental science principles, studying app development, and designing an engaging user interface. She reaches out to her environmental science teacher and a local app developer for mentorship, receiving valuable feedback to refine her project.

Outcome and Impact

Maya presents her completed app at her school's science fair, receiving accolades for its innovation, educational value, and potential to make a real-world impact. She submits the EcoChallenge app as a central piece of her college applications, including a detailed report on her research, development process, and user feedback.

The Bottom Line

Your senior project can be one of the most important pieces of your college application. It can also make a difference in the world. 

As you shape your senior project, see how many of these elements you can apply to it:

• Makes measurable impact. What does success look like, and how will you measure it?
• Presents an innovative solution to an existing issue. Is this solving a problem?
• Is oriented to the community. Is this making my community/country/the world a better place?
• Is interdisciplinary. Can I blend more than one of my interests? Can I get professionals from other fields to collaborate on this project?
• Is related to your field of study. Will this make my academic interests clear?

Basically, think about something you care about. Take it beyond something standard and ask, “What can I do that would allow me to help my community and leave a greater impact?”

Even after reading all these examples, I know that choosing an idea for your own senior project can be tough. If you need help choosing and executing a standout senior project, book a free consultation with one of our academic advisers. Crimson’s extracurricular mentors can help you combine your interests into an impactful senior project that makes you stand out to top college admissions officers.

Building The Perfect Application

Passion projects and extracurriculars are just one piece of the puzzle. It could be difficult to navigate the ins and outs of the college admission process, but you don’t have to go through it alone.

Working with an expert strategist is a surefire way to perfect your application. Students working with our strategists are 7x more likely to gain admission into their dream university.

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Let your passion project be your ticket to a top university!

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The Admissions Strategist

Capstone projects for high school students: the ultimate guide.

A capstone project, otherwise known as a culminating project or a senior thesis, is a long-term, substantial assignment that you undertake in your final year of high school. If you are passionate about a particular subject a capstone project is the perfect way to demonstrate that passion to colleges, future employers, and your local community. 

Traditionally, a “capstone” is the final piece of brickwork or stone laid atop a building to complete it. It is the culminating step in a considerable process. For students, a capstone project is similar. It is a crowning achievement to tie together what you have learned in high school . Ideally, your capstone should relate to your academic accomplishments and demonstrate to colleges your mastery of the subject. 

Click above to watch a video on Capstone Projects.

Why are capstone projects important for high school students?

Capstone projects provide numerous benefits to students. Most obviously, they provide dedicated students with the opportunity to demonstrate their academic rigor and mastery of certain subjects. This is extremely useful in the context of college applications. However, there are several other important benefits that you can derive from this experience. 

• You may find that the simple process of designing your own project and carrying it to completion will engender self-belief and the confidence that you can undertake even greater projects. 
• A capstone project pushes you to hone your skills in public speaking, critical thinking, teamwork and leadership, research and collaboration, planning and organization, and many more. 
• You may be unsure of exactly what you want to focus on in college and beyond. 
• A capstone project gives you the chance to experiment with something that has always captured your academic attention. 
• If you are passionate about a hobby or discipline, a capstone project allows you to test whether you want to pursue this passion at a higher level. 
• This project will help solidify your goals and the focus of your academic future.
• One of the most significant aspects of a capstone project is the relationship that develops between mentor and student. 
• Many projects will require supervision or consultation with experts – often your teachers or members of your community. These relationships can provide innumerable benefits both in the long and short term. Tapping into the network of people around you, and showing respect and interest in their expertise will take you a long way. Most professionals love nothing more than discussing their passions with excited young people. 
• It never hurts to get more experts advocating for you and more community figures in your corner!
• Less seriously, senior year can often be a wasted year. You might find that – having already completed your standardized tests, applied to college, and completed most of your important courses – you no longer are engaged with school or required to complete much work. This is often seen as an opportunity for seniors to unwind, but there are dangers associated with this.
• Not least of which is the danger of losing academic momentum and developing poor habits. By undertaking a capstone project throughout senior year, you will be further engaged with schooling and less likely to suffer from the shock of returning to normalcy in freshman fall at college. 

How can a capstone project help you for college admissions?

College admissions is an extremely competitive and increasingly demanding process. As college applications become more and more comprehensive, students and parents have begun to see capstone projects as a way to gain an advantage. Many students are of the mistaken belief that colleges are primarily looking for well-rounded students.

Most high schoolers who are serious about college are encouraged to pursue interests even outside of their passions – you might have been told “you should play a sport, and an instrument, and be in the debate club, and volunteer locally, and travel!”

Apart from being stressful, and unattainable for the majority of young people, this is generally poor advice. Instead, it is better to have a handful of interests or passions that you can demonstrate a prolonged period of dedication to. This is where a capstone project fits in. 

Briefly imagine you are an aspiring scientist, determined to study biology at university. When you are applying to college you want to demonstrate that this passion is a deep one, and that it is a priority for you.

In that context, it makes much more sense to apply your time towards a study of local environmental degradation than towards an unrelated sport, club, or volunteer activity.

Additionally, colleges are becoming increasingly savvy about the affectations of prospective students. Showing a genuine, long-term interest in a particular academic discipline has reemerged as one of the surest ways to gain attention from the leading colleges.

You may also find that your capstone experience was so noteworthy or illuminating that you are inspired to write your personal statements or supplemental essays about it. At the very least, you will find that your capstone project helps tie together your academic pursuits and provides you with a useful narrative structure for college applications and interviews. 

How to brainstorm a capstone project

When sitting down to brainstorm a capstone project, it is important to remember that this is a personal process. It can be useful to study projects done by former students, to see what worked and what did not, and to encourage ideas of your own. But, ultimately, you want your capstone project to reflect your unique skills and interests.

Think about whatever you excel in academically. Or, perhaps, what you have always been passionate about but have long thought didn’t relate particularly to academics. Most importantly, consider what it is you want to focus your higher education and career on, and let that guide your decision.

There are limitless options for capstone projects. The only things to avoid are plagiarism and irrelevancy. Pick something that inspires you and that will provide you with a useful foundation to make the next step. If all else fails, ask people around you!

They may have a better idea of your strengths and weaknesses than you do. A simple conversation with a parent, friend, tutor, or teacher may lead you on a journey you never considered. 

How to find a capstone project

Trying to find an original capstone project can be challenging. In recent years, undertaking a capstone has become quite common with American students. As such, you might find it tricky to come up with an idea that doesn’t seem overdone or, worse, like plagiarism.

However, there is only one you! The composite parts of your interests may be shared by many, but the sum of your interests is unique to you. This means that sometimes you might find your best idea is an interdisciplinary one. 

Let us pretend you are a student who is interested in the environment, American history, and mapmaking. Now, if you were to try to come up with a capstone idea, you might begin by considering a study on the impact of environmental runoff in your local river or an investigation into the roots of different people living in your community.

You might then go online and see that such projects seem unoriginal or trite. Desperate and discouraged you might force yourself into one of these narrow approaches.

However, a better option would be to consider how to weave your many interests into one coherent capstone. For you, this could involve researching the construction and maintenance of wooded paths in your local forest or reservation going back to the precolonial era.

You might interview community leaders, study historical maps and texts, practice cartography, and ultimately enrich yourself in several areas at once. Needless to say, you would also produce a more authentic and unique capstone project. 

Consider: You are multifaceted, and the interactions of those facets are what makes you unique!

How long should a capstone project last?

Broadly speaking, a capstone project is intended to last for the bulk of your senior year. The majority of capstone projects are proposed in the summer between junior and senior year, or early in the fall, and then completed in the spring or summer of senior year.

However, there is no absolute rule here and indeed many schools encourage students to begin working on their capstone projects as early as freshman year. 

While there is no limit to how long you can work on your capstone project, there is a limit on how little. A capstone project by definition should be long-term and extensive. At a minimum, we are talking about several months.

The purpose is to demonstrate to colleges, your community, and yourself that you can undertake a project over a long period of time. This involves many skills that colleges prize, such as time management and planning, prioritization of tasks, determination, and diligence. 

Remember that a good capstone project cannot be rushed. You will likely want to be working on it for at least the bulk of your senior year. 

Get personalized advice!

How to design your own capstone project in simple steps.

• Proposal – Your big idea! The details of the proposal you will be expected to put forward will be different from school to school, but there are some general guidelines. A proposal should be initiated by the student and put forward to a professor, teacher, or community leader. This proposal should contain an observation and a hypothesis; review of existing literature; a planned study or experiment; and possible problems with the proposal. If the proposal is approved by an expert, you are ready to proceed to the next steps. 
• Anchor Experience – The main event! This is where you actually study something, observe, or conduct research. This may involve any number of things depending on your own project. This experience should usually involve a mentor and prolonged exposure to the subject at hand. 
• Portfolio – Evidence and conclusions of your work! Throughout your capstone project you should maintain a portfolio of all related writing, work, and research. Your portfolio should include any experiments run, observations recorded, or conclusions reached. It is what you will show to colleges to prove your work and what you will be expected to present at the end of your project. 
• Presentation – Defend your thesis or show it off! The final step of most capstone projects involves presenting your work to one or more experts in the field. Oftentimes, this just involves presenting your portfolio to the same teacher who approved your proposal and who has been acting as your mentor throughout. Sometimes, however, it may involve making a presentation before a large group of people and defending your thesis from questions and comments. The exact nature of your presentation will naturally differ depending on your choice of project. 

How to pick the best capstone project

Your capstone project should relate to your intended major . If you plan to study chemistry, don’t do a capstone project on romance literature. If you plan to study American history, don’t do a capstone project on marketing in your community.

If you have not yet decided what to major in or what you want to focus your college education on, then it makes sense to use your capstone project to experiment with something – try on the hat and see how it fits. 

Additionally, you want your capstone project to be something that inspires and motivates you. It is no good picking something that sounds brilliant and earthshaking in theory, but that will in practice bore or frustrate you. That is the surest way to produce poor quality work.

You should assess your own habits and motivations and come up with the best project that fits you. Colleges can usually tell a genuine interest from a manufactured one. Therefore, you should pick something which will allow you to show them your best work in a subject you are deeply immersed in. This will always produce the best results. 

While I have said previously that a capstone project can be a good opportunity to experiment with a possible interest, it is important to briefly elaborate on that to provide better context.

It is an opportunity to expand on a preexisting interest that you are not sure if you want to dedicate your education or career to. It is not an opportunity to manufacture a completely new interest. Remember, a capstone is meant to be the finishing touch on your entire schooling. It should always relate to and expand upon your previous work. 

It is therefore best to pick a capstone project that you function as the final step on a journey you have already been undertaking. If all else fails, consider your interests and passions and go from there. Even if it seems only tangentially related to academia, that would be better than choosing an academically sound project that doesn’t inspire you.

Capstone project examples

Conclusion: capstone projects in high school.

Be sure to discuss your options with your family and educators and consider what options work best for you given practical considerations. 

And, finally, do not be discouraged by the depth of capstone projects. Consider it not as a test to pass or fail, but rather an opportunity to learn, grow, and prove your unique brilliance!

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The value of senior capstone projects

by: Hank Pellissier | Updated: September 14, 2022

Print article

Richard W. Riley, a former U.S. Secretary of Education, once called senior year of high school a “wasteland.” So bored, tired, and burned out are these soon-to-be-graduates that their apathy is often reframed as a disease: Senioritis. A dreaded affliction, Senioritis is the culprit for everything from skipping class to forgetting homework — and evokes protestations like, “Why? It’s pointless!”

Though parents and teachers may be inclined to blame teens, experts point to the way we’ve designed high schools. Just as 17- and 18-year-olds can see their whole lives changing — whether they’re headed to college or embarking on a career path — little about their daily life has changed. Their high school schedule isn’t focused on their fast-approaching futures. They know where they’re headed next year. Their grades no longer matter so much. Traditional high school is built around these external measures, and now that they no longer carry as much weight, the whole endeavor does, indeed, seem rather pointless.

What can be done about this plague called Senioritis?

Some high schools have set about making learning relevant by clearing time from seniors’ regular academic schedule so they can work on a capstone project. Senior capstones are ambitious, long-term, in-depth projects during senior year of high school that culminate in written and oral presentations. Not only do they prepare students for college-level work, they help keep the focus on learning in a year plagued by distractions and flagging motivation. And because they are based on the student’s choice, they also allow students to explore a topic or field they might want to pursue as a college major or career.

Depending on the student’s passions, this could range from an aspiring artist researching a local community’s history and painting a public mural, a fashionista designing a new line of clothing and writing an analysis of its inspiration, a future scientist studying soil samples in the nearby elementary school garden and presenting to the local school board on the soil’s safety issues. Many capstone projects combine what is traditionally thought of as “academic” work (writing, research, science) with something more hands-on or creative, such as art, invention, public presentations, marketing, activism, or public service.

Students research their topic over time, take notes, synthesize and analyze what they learn, and then demonstrate their conclusions in a paper, short film, or other product. They also give an oral presentation to a panel of evaluating teachers, peers, and/or experts. Senior capstones are often interdisciplinary, connected to the local community, and include interviews, scientific observations, and sometimes fieldwork, volunteering, or even internships.

Why are senior capstone projects important?

An August 2013 research report examining multiple high schools found that senior capstones both helped students stay engaged with school and were linked to positive outcomes. Teens completing capstones in North Carolina “received job offers, internships, and scholarships”; students in Louisiana reported that the capstone experience “influenced their future goals or plans;” and seniors in Massachusetts reported that their capstone projects helped them in college interviews and built their confidence and self-motivation.

When implemented well, senior capstone projects can…

• Boost self-confidence by giving students a chance to excel in an area of in-depth learning.
• Prepare kids for college-level work, which often requires more rigorous standards and deeper knowledge that typical high school coursework.
• Keep students engaged in the last year of high school by allowing them to pursue something they’re passionate about.
• Give students an opportunity to build and display crucial skills, including critical thinking, research, public speaking, media literacy, strategic thinking, self-sufficiency, and goal-setting.
• Help students explore their interests, sometimes helping students decide which college major and/or career path to pursue (or not).
• Help students find a sense of purpose in terms of how they want to contribute to the world.

How senior capstone projects work

Senior capstone projects can take on different forms and schedules at different schools but typically the student 1) chooses a topic, social problem, or profession that intrigues them, 2) spends several months deeply investigating the subject via research, interviews, and internships, and finally, 3) delivers the product in a paper, presentation, or performance that fully demonstrates the academic skills and knowledge they’ve acquired.

Some schools, like Denver School of Science and Technology: Montview High School , reduce students’ academic schedules during the spring semester to give them more time for their projects.

Capstones are frequently undertaken at the end of high school as a culminating experience, but they’re also tackled earlier, so students can showcase the accomplishment on their college applications. For example, the Jefferson County Open School (JCOS) in Lakewood, CO has one of the oldest capstone programs in the U.S. The school’s “Passages” program requires every student to do six capstone projects to graduate. Each of the six “passages” has a different focus — career exploration, adventure, creative expression, global awareness, logical inquiry, and practical skills — and each involves kids “doing something, an action element,” explains Principal Scott Bain. “They’re not just an academic task.”

“Capstones are a window into a kid’s skill set. They’re also windows into understanding who you are and what you value — personally, socially, intellectually — and what you want to do with your life,” Bain says.

When capstones don’t work

Critics suggest that senior capstone projects are far from a miracle cure, especially in schools where a majority of the students do not have strong academic skills. Deep rigorous learning requires more academic skills, not fewer. Although elite, private schools have successfully used capstones for centuries, EdTrust writer Carlton Jordan points out that the students are accustomed to extensive, in-depth writing. Jordan argues that capstones in predominantly Black and Latino urban schools often fall far short because the students are not sufficiently prepared for the task.

Senior capstone programs can also reinforce existing inequities. In a more haphazard program, students may be expected to use their parents’ connections to reach out to mentors or community members, instead of school staff making sure every student has a feasible plan for carrying out their project.

Key factors to consider:

• Time constraints: Students from low-income families who need to work, take care of family members, or do extensive household chores, may not be able to dedicate as much time to a capstone project as their more affluent classmates.
• Access issues: Students who want to explore their interest in an elite career via a capstone may have an advantage if they have family or friends of family in that occupation — and be at a disadvantage if they do not.
• Implementation issues: Senior capstones are sometimes used as graduation requirement alternatives for students who are expected to fail graduation exams. This enables schools to offer diplomas to students without basic literacy and math skills.
• Additional implementation issues: Conversely, senior capstones are sometimes designed for a few high-performing students, leaving out most of the senior class.

Key takeaways

• Ask if the school has senior capstone projects. If they do, ask to see the guidelines and some successful sample projects.
• No capstone projects at your child’s high school? Ask the principal and 12th grade teachers if researching and producing an in-depth project is an academic option for all students.

For educators:

• If your school doesn’t have capstones, build mini capstones into your class by helping students create multi-faceted, multi-month projects of their own choosing. Help your students create timelines with reasonable interim goals, so they’re not overwhelmed with last-minute tasks.
• Connect students, especially those from underserved communities, to experts, local groups, and resource materials to help them in their research.
• Push students gently out of their comfort zone, to think and work harder than they’ve done in the past.

For administrators:

• If your high schools do not yet have capstone programs, read this research report on different ways schools have implemented them.
• Start a pilot project with one innovative teacher or school site. Attend capstone presentations and urge other administrators, faculty members, and community members to attend and present feedback.

This article is part of our Transforming High School series , a collection of stories, videos, and podcasts exploring the practices that prepare students for success in college and beyond.

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Capstone Projects for High School Students

Padya Paramita

February 10, 2020

As colleges get more and more selective, you might be worried about how you can stand out among the thousands of talented candidates. One useful tip to keep in mind is that admissions officers want students who are truly passionate about what they do and have gone above and beyond to demonstrate their interests. If you’ve got an academic subject, topic, or even hobby that you love, consider taking on one of the many possible capstone projects for high school students . 

It’s never too early to start brainstorming, especially when considering broad fields such as biology and economics. Finding a specific topic that relates to you personally is especially important with interests such as writing and art that are common for many applicants. To guide you through the process, I have outlined what exactly is meant by capstone projects for high school students , provided some topic suggestions to give you an idea of what yours might look like, and finally, outlined how your project can benefit your chances in the college admissions process. 

What is a Capstone Project?

Capstone projects for high school students can take many different forms, depending on the topics that resonate with you, and what is feasible based on your location and the time you’re willing to spend. If you’d like a more concrete way to convey your skills, effort, and knowledge in a certain discipline, carrying out a capstone project - usually finished at the end of the school year - would be an effective way to reflect your interest. Throughout the project, you should make a plan, conduct research, maintain a portfolio if applicable, keep track of your progress, and finally, present it.

Students usually carry out these projects individually, but sometimes, depending on the breadth of the topic, form a group. You might want to find a mentor as a resource, though it’s not required. Choose a mentor who offers expertise in the field. For example, your history teacher can assist you on a paper about World War II, while your English teacher should be your go-to if you’re working on a poetry collection.

Once your project is ready, you should present your hard work in a form that makes sense for the field of your choice. Capstone projects for high school students could come to life in the form of a paper, video, public presentation, or something even more specific such as an app or book. You might submit it to a panel of your teachers or supervisors for a grade if applicable.

Brainstorming Topics for Capstone Projects for High School Students

Brainstorming capstone projects for high school students can be difficult. Where do you even start? Narrow down topics based on your intended major, career interest, or a problem in your community you’d want to tackle. You could even find an academic approach to one of your favorite extracurricular activities!

The project can take many forms. If you’re interested in studying filmmaking, you could create a short movie or documentary. If you’re conducting biological research, you could write an academic paper and try to get it published. Check out the following table, which we’ve divided up by fields, in order to inspire ideas for your own initiative as you continue brainstorming capstone projects for high school students . 

As you can see, there is a world of possibilities. Your projects can also be on a relatively small scale if you don’t have the resources or the time. If you have multiple interests, you can combine various fields, such as art and business, engineering and biology, writing and social justice. If you’re thinking about pursuing one of these capstone projects for high school students , carefully consider what you can genuinely put the most effort into and create something that is unique to you!

How Can a Capstone Project Help You in the Admissions Process?

You might be wondering whether conducting capstone projects for high school students helps with your college applications. If done well, such work can impress admissions officers, as it would show that you aren’t afraid of taking initiative. If you work on the project with a team, this could be a great demonstration of your leadership and collaboration skills. Over the course of your work, depending on your project, you can also hone your research, writing, and public speaking skills. 

Colleges appreciate students who are specialized in one or two particular areas. Starting your own capstone project can effectively emphasize your passion for your major or prospective career. Considering that you will probably work very hard on the project and that it might end up having a deep impact on you (and vice versa), you could find yourself writing your personal statement or supplemental essays on the experience. Having worked on a project like this would portray clear ambition on your part. Admissions officers would get a strong impression of the ways you would contribute to the campus community. 

At the end of the day, the sole purpose of your project shouldn’t be just to boost your application profile. Genuinely work hard on your project and make sure your reasons behind pursuing it are convincing. Admissions officers will organically get a sense of your intellectual pursuits and commitment to creating something beyond what’s expected out of your academic interests. 

Capstone projects for high school students not only convey your passion towards a field, but they help you develop and hone skills that can benefit you throughout the rest of your life. Remember, that taking on such a project requires time, dedication, and patience, so don’t tackle something huge unless you can handle it. But if you commit to it with enthusiasm and determination, your efforts can go a long way toward increasing your knowledge, impressing colleges, and positively contributing to your community. Good luck!

Tags : applying to college , capstone projects for high school students , what is a capstone project , excelling in high school , projects in high school

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What is a Capstone Project in High School?

What’s covered:, what are capstone projects, how do capstone projects benefit high schoolers, should my child complete a capstone project, what are some examples of capstone projects.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a capstone as a “high point: crowning achievement” which, in many ways, defines a capstone project for high schoolers. Capstone projects require students to use all of the skills they’ve built over the course of their schooling to complete a substantial project that highlights their educational and intellectual experience.  

A high school capstone project is a way for students to demonstrate the culmination of skills and knowledge gained through their academic career by completing a long-term, multi-faceted project.

Typically performed at the end of a student’s high school career, students commonly choose a topic, profession, or social problem to explore and work with a mentor in that field of interest. The mentor guides the student through the project—sharing their knowledge of the field, teaching new skills, ensuring the student stays on task, and fostering a professional, real-world experience.

Over the course of the project, students conduct research, maintain a portfolio detailing the steps taken, and create a final paper, product, or presentation that demonstrates what they’ve learned. Often times, a final presentation is given to a panel of teachers, experts in the field, and community members.

One of the primary benefits of a capstone project to a high school student is that it highlights their educational accomplishments. Capstone projects provide students with the opportunity to exhibit their capacity for learning and allow them to show off the critical thinking skills they’ve built.

Colleges search for well-rounded students and the multi-faceted nature of a capstone project allows students to display a wide range of skills to prospective schools—writing, research, teamwork, planning, self-sufficiency and public speaking are just a sampling of the many skills used by a student to complete such a rigorous project. Capstone projects are a great way to indicate to potential colleges that a student is prepared for the demands of higher education.

Capstone projects also benefit high school students by creating self-confidence and building a sense of preparedness for college. A student who has successfully completed a thorough study of a subject and collaborated with an older, experienced mentor is likely to feel ready to take the next step academically. Capstone projects can also add a sense of purpose to a time where interest in education often wanes—consider it a cure for senioritis.  

Lastly, capstone projects let students immerse themselves in a field of interest. For some students, it solidifies their interest in a field and clarifies a degree path; others may learn through their capstone project that the field they chose isn’t as interesting as they thought. Either way, it helps create a sense of certainty before taking expensive college courses.

Though there are numerous benefits to undertaking a capstone project, the question remains: should your child complete one? The simple answer is yes. Completing a capstone project can be a feather in the cap of any prospective college student, so long as the project doesn’t interfere with any of the student’s other activities or interests that may be attractive to colleges and universities.

Colleges are always searching for students who maintain a high grade point average (GPA) while challenging themselves academically. The long-term, intense study of a subject will certainly make a student’s academic prowess evident to prospective schools, but this is only valuable if it doesn’t interfere with their studies and negatively affect their GPA. Students challenging themselves with a capstone project should be careful not to undertake the project at the expense of their other intellectual pursuits.

Colleges also seek out well-rounded students and you can make the argument that the focused study of one subject is out of line with what colleges and universities hope to see in a student. It’s true that capstone projects highlight the possession of a diverse skill set in a student, but colleges look for students with a wide range of interests in addition to skills. Students should not take up a capstone project if it means sacrificing extracurricular activities and other interests.

On a more personal level, students should ask themselves what they want to accomplish via a capstone project. The best projects are often the ones where the student is most passionate. If a student has a sincere interest in the deeper exploration of a field, it should be encouraged and their excitement and enthusiasm for the field can be felt in their work. If a student is solely tackling a capstone project to wow colleges, there is most likely a better way to impress schools more in line with the student’s interest.

Looking to get a better sense of what a capstone project is or looking for an idea to get started on your own capstone project? Here are some examples:

Business: Study digital marketing and create a digital marketing plan for a local business to help increase awareness and drive sales.

STEM: Learn about video game or app development and conceptualize, design, and build a working game or app.

Athletics: Research training and nutrition, build a training plan and diet, and perform in an athletic competition (a triathlon or marathon, for example).

Community Service: Learn about the work non-profits do, get first-hand experience volunteering with a local non-profit, and build a plan to create an organization that serves your community.

Film: Research what makes an effective public service announcement (PSA) and write, direct, and film a PSA that addresses a concern in your community.

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What are Capstone Projects? The Complete Guide to Capstone Projects in High School & Middle School

In athletics, there are competitive matches; in the performing arts, there are stage performances. If you imagine school as a series of practices, capstones are the “big game”.

They provide an opportunity for learners to get their ideas out into the world by working on a project they are passionate about while making an impact on their community.

Already know about Capstones? Skip to Capstone Project Ideas

Looking for advice skip to capstone project tips, what are capstone projects, capstone project definition.

A middle school or high school capstone is a culminating experience where students design and execute a significant and impactful project, often in their final academic year. This project requires students to apply knowledge and skills from various subjects while addressing real-world issues.

A typical capstone project includes the following stages: research, planning, execution, iteration, and presentation. It aims to showcase a student’s critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills while fostering a deep understanding of the subject matter and its practical applications.

Projects can take various forms, such as a product or service prototype, a community service initiative, an action research paper, a multimedia presentation, or a performance, depending on the educational context and the student's interests.

Why Capstones?

The value of capstone projects extends beyond academic requirements. They provide a platform for students to delve into their passions and take ownership of their educational experience. As students immerse themselves in these projects, they not only contribute to their personal growth as well-rounded students, but they also make valuable contributions to their communities.

Capstones provide an opportunity for students to learn for the sake of learning, where research is rooted in what they are actually interested in, and where all of the foundational skills built in prior years suddenly have relevance. They serve as a bridge between classroom learning and real-world application, empowering students to demonstrate their readiness to embark on their next chapter, whether that be in higher education or the workforce.

How Capstones Improve Learning

Capstones create meaning in a learner’s life that can be transformational. Our philosophy at Unrulr is: when learners see the relevancy of learning a technical skill— and it's documented, shared, and celebrated—they're going to learn it at a much faster rate than had they not seen the relevancy. Also, the data shows that capstones or senior projects can help 12th graders avoid "senioritis" by providing students with a reason to remain engaged.

The main goal of capstone projects is to promote comprehensive learning. They aim to nurture a wide range of 21st century skills that go beyond subject-specific knowledge:

Application of Learning: Capstone projects bridge the gap between theory and practice. They encourage high school students to apply what they've learned in various subjects to real-world situations, enhancing their understanding and retention of knowledge.

Deepened Understanding: By immersing themselves in a specific topic of interest, students gain a deeper understanding of complex issues and nuances that traditional classroom settings may not fully capture.

Interdisciplinary Learning: Capstone projects often require high school students to draw from multiple disciplines to address multifaceted challenges. This interdisciplinary approach nurtures a holistic view of problems and solutions.

Research Skills: Students develop research skills, from conducting literature reviews to collecting and analyzing data to interviewing key stakeholders, fostering a foundation for academic and professional pursuits.

Critical Thinking: The complexities of capstone projects demand critical thinking. Students learn to evaluate information, assess perspectives, and make well-reasoned decisions.

Problem-Solving: Engaging in capstone projects hones problem-solving abilities. Students encounter obstacles, experiment with solutions, and adapt strategies as needed.

Creativity: Students have the opportunity to explore creative solutions and innovative approaches, encouraging imaginative thinking and originality. Additionally, students have the opportunity to work on creative projects, such as art installations or performances.

Communication: Capstone projects teach students to effectively convey ideas, findings, and progress. Students refine skills in expressing complex concepts, adapting messages, collaborating in teams, and delivering confident presentations. Additionally, regular reflection moments foster self-awareness and a deeper understanding of their journey.

How Capstones Help Students Get Into College

In an increasingly competitive landscape, college admissions seek students who exhibit not only academic prowess but also a commitment to growth and a willingness to embrace challenges. High school capstone projects provide a perfect platform for students to stand out.

Learners are able to showcase evidence of who they are and what they've worked on. Regardless of GPA or SAT score, when a college can see who a learner is and what they're capable of— what they care about— it’s so much more valuable than just a narrative essay.

When detailed in college applications, capstone projects showcase a student's dedication, initiative, and ability to see a long-term project through to completion. Admissions officers recognize that these projects demand a level of commitment and resilience that goes beyond standardized testing, and indicate a student's potential for success in college and beyond.

How Capstones Prepare Students for Life After Graduation

High school capstone projects have a significant advantage: they mirror the demands of the real world. From project planning and research to time management and effective communication, students gain practical skills that extend far beyond their classrooms. The collaborative nature of many capstone projects also cultivates teamwork and interpersonal skills, essential in today's interconnected world.

Also, capstone projects often require students to engage with their communities. This engagement nurtures civic responsibility and a deep understanding of the societal impact of their work. As they identify and address real issues, students learn the value of empathy, cultural awareness, and ethical decision-making—these are critical SEL skills.

We’ve seen capstones and the work that's come out of them be used for jobs and internships. A learner is able to showcase what they've built and how they worked on it. When projects are documented, this kind of evidence is appealing to potential employers, and can be more impactful than a generic resume that blends in with the rest.

Capstones can build confidence for learners by providing an opportunity to test out ideas in the safe environment of a school. Learners can launch entrepreneurial ventures, lead impactful campaigns, or champion social justice initiatives, and then they can carry that forward after graduation and into their future careers.

Real-World Capstone Example: Student Farmers Market

“Don’t let your age stop you." - Chris Blake (Trinity's teacher)

Trinity embarked on an environmental science capstone project during her senior year. Her challenge was to enhance the school's sustainability. She identified a major issue faced by her school and the larger community: the heavy reliance on imported food in Hawaiʻi.

Empowered by the agency to choose her own direction, Trinity initiated an on-campus, student-led farmer's market. Through this endeavor, she honed various skills, even delving into web design to create a  website for the market. This experience ignited her passion for sustainability and farmers markets. It also boosted her self-confidence and taught her to leverage her age to her own benefit.

After graduating and attending a youth entrepreneurship summer camp, Trinity co-founded Mauka Market , the world’s first regenerative e-commerce and pop-up marketplace. Trinity's journey has culminated in her sole ownership of Mauka Market.

To learn more about Trinity's inspiring journey, listen to our podcast episode .

Capstone Project Ideas

Here are a few more examples of middle school or high school capstone project ideas that highlight some of the possibilities:

1. Design a Sustainable Energy Solution for the School | STEM

Students in this project might investigate renewable energy sources, conduct energy audits, and propose innovative ways to reduce the school's carbon footprint and stem environmental degradation. They could then design and build wind turbines or set up solar panels and analyze the cost-effectiveness of their solutions.

2. Create a Social Impact Documentary | Humanities

Students interested in social issues might create a documentary that sheds light on a particular challenge in their community, such as mental health challenges or food insecurity. They would conduct interviews, gather data, and present their findings through a compelling film that raises awareness and encourages change.

3. Curate an Art Exhibition | Arts

Artistic students could curate an art exhibition that explores a specific theme, technique, or art movement. They would select artworks, write artist statements, and design the exhibition space to convey a narrative to visitors. Student could be encouraged to collaborate with their peers to coordinate a larger art show, providing the opportunity to develop their communication and cooperative planning skills.

4. Establish a Community or School Garden | Community Service

Students interested in a community service project might initiate a project to establish a local community or school garden. They would plan the garden layout, engage the community (or school), and document the garden's development, from seed planting to harvest. For an added STEM component, students could try different methods of gardening across multiple plots and collect and analyze data on growth rates.

5. Launch a Student-Run Business | Business & Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurial students might start a business within their school, such as a student-run café or an online store. They would handle all aspects, from market research and product development to marketing and financial management.

Personalizing Student Projects

Keep in mind, projects should be personalized to the interests and skillset of each student, while also taking into account your learning community's unique learning objects or portrait of a graduate. A well-planned capstone experience will help prepare students for college and their professional careers. Devoting class time to guide students through introspection and identity reflection will significantly aid in preparing them to generate project ideas that hold personal meaning and captivate their interest.

How to implement capstone projects

Successfully integrating capstone projects with your learners involves several crucial stages:

1. Ideation Encourage learners to explore their interests, identifying topics that resonate with them. In addition, have students consider what impact they want to create in their community. This phase is about sparking curiosity and allowing them to select projects that will hold their attention over the course of a semester or year. For a helpful exercise you can run with your students, check out our Heart, Head, and Purpose lesson plan .

2. Research: Guide students in conducting thorough research related to their chosen topics. This phase is essential for building a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding, which will inform the entire capstone journey.

3. Project Management & Planning: Teach project management skills that enable students to break their projects into manageable steps. Encourage students to create a quarter, semester, or year-long plan, depending on the duration of the capstone project. This stage emphasizes effective organization and time management, ensuring that progress remains steady.

4. Project Implementation & Documentation: This is the heart of the capstone journey. Students actively work on their projects, translating ideas into tangible outcomes. Simultaneously, they document and reflect on their progress, challenges, and successes to create a comprehensive record to draw from during their final presentations.

5. Final Presentation/Showcase: Offer students the opportunity to present their finished projects to an audience of key stakeholders at a culminating showcase event. This stage hones communication and public speaking skills, allowing learners to articulate their findings, insights, and the learning journey itself.

6. Reflection & Assessment: After completing their projects, encourage students to reflect on the entire experience. This process aids in recognizing personal growth, skill development, and the challenges overcome. Use these reflections to assess the overall effectiveness of the capstone process.

By carefully guiding learners through these stages, you create a structured and meaningful capstone experience that fosters skill development, critical thinking, and self-confidence.

Tips for running capstone projects

Sold on capstones? Here are our tips for running successful capstone projects:

Tip #1: Cultivate skills ahead of senior year (or 8th grade)

Begin laying the groundwork for capstone success by nurturing essential skills well before students reach their final year.

By initiating skill development at an earlier stage, educators can effectively equip learners with the capabilities and confidence needed to excel in their culminating project.

Tip #2: Implement weekly check-ins for clear progress tracking

Consider incorporating a weekly check-in system to keep tabs on your learners' progress. It will be the first time that many students will be embarking on a long-term project or being tasked with transforming their ideas into tangible realities. This transition can be overwhelming. To smooth this process, offer supportive scaffolding and introduce project management concepts.

By establishing weekly check-ins, you create a valuable framework for following your learners' progress and providing timely guidance.

Tip #3: Embrace your learners' identities, skills, and passions

A crucial aspect of capstone success is aligning it with your learners' unique identities, backgrounds, and life experiences. To do this, foster a culture of openness and trust through thorough ideation and an emphasis on vulnerability. Give ample space for learners to explore their interests, skills, and capacities, as well as the problems they aspire to solve in the world.

By dedicating time to these aspects, you enhance the overall value of the capstone experience.

Tip #4: Foster a capstone community

It’s important to engage essential players within the school ecosystem as you shape your program. This includes collaborating with college counseling, admissions teams, and the advancement office to facilitate mentorship opportunities for students. Equally vital is the participation of department heads (e.g. English and Social Studies) to co-create rubrics and align essential components of the capstone experience. By seamlessly weaving these elements into the fabric of existing courses, you create a continuous connection from ninth grade to twelfth grade.

Consider organizing several exhibition days throughout the capstone journey, rather than just at the end, to ensure that key stakeholders in a learner's academic journey remain informed and involved in the capstone experience. Capstones possess the remarkable potential to transform learning into a truly community-driven endeavor.

Unrulr: The ultimate capstone tool

Unrulr addresses a common challenge for capstone educators: how to monitor students' progress without overwhelming them with assignments and rigid milestones.

Unrulr empowers students to shape their capstone narratives and share their ongoing progress by documenting the evolution of their projects and capturing their reflections throughout their learning journey.

Learners can delve into each other's posts and reflections and add comments, transforming their capstone experience into an active and collaborative community.

Book a demo or create an Unrulr account today.

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Can ‘Capstone Projects’ Deepen Learning for High School Seniors?

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Oakland, Calif.

Fremont High School teacher Maya Brodkey is laying out the next building block in her students’ high school graduation project—a yearlong assessment oriented around a research question students have developed on a social issue like homelessness, war, or vaping. They’ve already conducted hours of online research and written essay drafts outlining their problems; the next step is to deepen their understanding and gain additional perspectives through field research, including an interview.

Students can choose to use focus groups, which Brodkey points out can elicit great information about why people hold the beliefs they do, but can be hard to schedule. They can conduct a one-on-one interview with an expert, with the knowledge that any single anecdote or position is necessarily limited. Or they can draft a survey to get superficial feedback from a wide range of people, which sounds like a lot of fun to these seniors—until Brodkey explains that it also means collecting and analyzing the resulting data, and all those data are limited by how the students frame their questions.

She references student Joanna Gonzalez’s topic, which is on immigration policy and racism, clearly a front-burner issue in this diverse school system of 50,000.

“You can’t just do a survey for immigrants. What does that mean? Are you asking people if they immigrated in a particular category? Are they a particular age? Did they immigrate and now have citizenship? Are they the children of immigrants?” she points out.

The students gather in groups to start thinking about what kind of field research they will choose. Only a handful have ever conducted a formal interview before, and most are a little nervous.

It’s no wonder: For most students, researching and writing about their topics represents the most sustained piece of writing they’ve had to do in high school, and field research isn’t even the last step. To graduate, they’ll have to craft a presentation about their topic for their entire school and respond to questions posed by a panel of teachers, almost as if they’re defending a thesis.

In High Demand

Oakland’s Graduate Capstone Project, as it’s called, provides a comprehensive look at how policymakers might think of structuring a yearlong performance test. Around 16 states have policies encouraging similar projects for high school graduation, but most of them don’t require it, and implementation of the projects tends to be uneven.

There’s nothing unique about the Oakland assessment’s individual pieces. What’s unusual is how they’re knit together comprehensively, with an eye toward making sure students’ mastery of research, writing, and oral skills matches the needs of what comes next for them .

“We really tried to learn from the mistakes of the past and think of this as not just a compliance policy,” said Young Whan Choi, the district’s manager of performance assessments. “It gives us an opportunity to improve the quality of the learning experience for students and develop some shared understanding of what we mean by a high-quality research paper, and a high-quality presentation, and what it means to be an Oakland graduate.”

All those skills are in high demand not only by colleges but also by employers, who say that few young people have the requisite oral-presentation or writing skills they expect of new hires.

“I have had students who have come back years later and said, ‘Having all these deadlines for different parts of the project helped me meet them for college,’ ” said James Barbuto, who teaches in nearby Skyline High School and oversees the capstone projects there. “I’ve never had a student who’s not been successful in some way, or gotten something out of it.”

Oakland teachers like Brodkey have encouraged students to select topics they’ve personally been touched by or feel passionate about. Partly, that’s because students need something complex enough to sustain a whole year. More importantly, it’s simply more authentic to a post-high-school world than topics like dress codes or cafeteria food.

“It sets them up to have a strong argument,” she said. “And with regard to civic education and engagement, when you pick a real issue, it’s easier to have a sense of agency.”

Joanna’s classmate Vtee is examining problems faced by the Cambodian community here, many of whom are still suffering the aftereffects of the 1979 Khmer Rouge genocide. Another student, who fled from violence in Yemen a few years ago, has chosen to research the effect of the civil war there on youths.

Tuuta Fili is among those students who’ve picked homelessness. “I had a best friend in elementary school who lived in his car for half a year and a motel for a year. And he still made it to school and stuff,” Fili said.

Laptop computer in hand, he mulls over the fieldwork assignment, thinking about whom to interview. An idea occurs to him: Near one of the downtown Oakland subway stops, there’s a new housing development for people experiencing homelessness. Maybe one of the developers would agree to be interviewed about the challenges and costs of creating affordable housing for his project, he thinks.

A Renaissance

Oakland’s efforts constitute a renaissance of sorts for the program. District policy has required seniors to engage in a “serious research project or exhibition” since 2005. But until recently there was little consistency in student projects, according to Choi. Teachers treated oversight of the graduation project like a hot potato, a duty they passed off to one another in an “it’s your turn” rite of passage.

In effect, Choi said, the requirement contributed to stratification in the district: Some students got an opportunity to write in-depth research papers, but others didn’t—sometimes within the same high school.

In 2012, the district latched onto the requirement as a lever to focus the senior year and improve student civic engagement. During the first few years Oakland first worked with students in career and technical education, but over the last few years grant support has expanded the capstone projects to the general curriculum.

These evolutions have been implemented from the bottom up, rather than as a mandate. The Oakland district still gives high schools flexibility to decide whether to make the capstone a separate course or to work it into an existing one. And the district didn’t initially use common scoring guidelines to judge students’ writing, field research, or oral-presentation skills.

But as groups of teachers started adopting them on their own, they saw how it gave them a shared language for discussing student work, and improved equity by making sure each project was being judged by the same set of standards. Now, the district disseminates three sets of guidelines to all—one for the written paper, one on conducting field research, and one on the presentation—and offers teachers training on them.

For now, actual scoring procedures differ from school to school. At Fremont High, drafts of student papers are shared among faculty, and final versions are blind-scored by at least two educators. Students know that their work will have to satisfy even their most finicky teachers.

Not all schools have adopted the full Graduate Capstone Project—some still do a less-formal project or use a simpler scoring system. But the culture around the capstones is growing. For the class of 2018, two-thirds of graduating seniors participated in the full project.

Shaping Instruction

For teachers like Brodkey and Barbuto, the capstone truly comes down to instruction, not testing. It’s required them to rethink their own teaching approaches.

Both teachers say one of the most challenging lessons they teach has to do with sourcing , especially in identifying skewed news articles and making sure students weigh multiple, conflicting perspectives on their topics.

Barbuto has students read each source they turn up at least three times: once to weigh its credibility, including by looking at the publisher’s credentials and purpose; next, reading for background and context; and finally, synthesizing and seeing how it complements or alters their overall conclusions about their topic.

There’s also the big task of simply keeping tabs on students’ progress and providing the right supports, like helping them identify and link up to experts for their interviews.

Students feel the pressure, too. Senior Janeli Romero-Garcia describes the project as difficult, but doable.

“We’re not doing it all in a rush,” she said. “There are pieces here and pieces there, and they’re all coming together.”

Teachers are also thinking about how they want to see the capstone project evolve next.

Barbuto would like to see colleagues in earlier grades beginning to familiarize themselves with the scoring frameworks, so that it’s easier to help students build the foundational skills over time.

“When we first started doing this years ago, the immediate feedback from the students was that it was too much to expect them to master these skills in senior year. They needed to be practicing it every year,” he said.

Brodkey wants to double down on the social justice, community focus of her capstone teaching, inching the projects closer to action civics, in which students not only identify and research a problem but also try to use civic channels to help solve it.

“We continue to ask questions about: Should we keep capstone as a separate class? Should we fold it into English?” she said. “But there is not a question about whether we should do the project.”

A version of this article appeared in the February 06, 2019 edition of Education Week as Can ‘Capstone Projects’ Deepen Learning for High School Seniors?

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, senior capstone project - what to expect.

Hey everyone! I've heard people mention that they're working on their 'senior capstone projects,' and I'm curious about what that entails. What exactly is a capstone project, and what should I expect when my time comes to do one?

Hello! A senior capstone project is a culminating and interdisciplinary assignment typically required in your final year of high school or college. It is designed to showcase the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout your education. Capstone projects can take various forms, like a research paper, an in-depth study, an original art piece, or even the implementation of a solution to a real-world issue.

When it's time for you to work on your capstone project, here's what you can expect:

1) Topic selection: You'll begin by choosing a topic that aligns with your major or an area of interest. It's essential to pick something you're passionate about and can sustain your enthusiasm throughout the duration of the project.

2) Proposal: After selecting a topic, you'll need to prepare a proposal outlining the scope of your project, its objectives, and the methods you'll use to achieve them.

3) Research and planning: Once your proposal is approved, you'll spend a significant amount of time researching and gathering information related to your topic. You'll also create a detailed plan outlining the steps you'll take to complete your project.

4) Execution: This is the phase where you actually create or implement your capstone project. Depending on the nature of your project, this could mean writing a research paper, developing a website or app, or creating an engaging art piece.

5) Presentation: After completing your project, you'll present your work to a panel of teachers, mentors, or other relevant professionals. This can take the form of an oral presentation, a written report, or a showcase of the finished product. You'll also need to be prepared to answer questions and discuss your findings in detail.

6) Evaluation and grading: Your capstone project will be evaluated based on various parameters, such as the quality of your research, the execution of your project, and how effectively you present your work. The grade you receive will likely have a significant impact on your final academic performance.

Throughout the process, it's normal to expect some challenges, such as time management or unforeseen issues with your project. However, with dedication and perseverance, you can successfully complete your capstone project and gain invaluable skills in problem-solving, project management, and communication to help you as you move forward in your academic or professional life.

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What Does a Senior Capstone Really Look Like?

Siembra leadership high schoolers create commercials for real businesses–and win cash prizes.

The traditional classroom can be a challenging and sometimes confining space for learning. Siembra Leadership High School , the only entrepreneurial-focused high school in New Mexico, offers students a different approach to education outside of the walls of a classroom. Their real-world learning structure allows students to receive direct experience in a business or entrepreneurial environment. 

Natalie Tavitas, Community Engagement Director of Siembra Leadership High School, helps support and promote the senior capstone projects, a key component of Siembra’s real-world learning model.  

“The beautiful thing about our school is that we do not actually have assignments. We have projects and the students work on numerous projects through the school year,” Tavitas said.  

One of those projects that sets students up for success in the professional world is the senior capstone project. “All of our seniors are running their own businesses or non-profit enterprises. We also do not have final tests, we have exhibitions where students are able to show what they have learned that semester,” Tavitas described. 

Siembra Leadership High School encourages their students to be business owners and entrepreneurs as their high school course. And they aren’t tested on their knowledge gained through a traditional exam, standardized test, or mid-term. Instead, they create a senior capstone project. For example, last year their learning culminated in a commercial competition where they created a business commercial and presented it to a panel of community partner judges.

Tavitas explained the stakes of the competition: “In addition to getting bragging rights for being the winners of these commercial competitions, they each win $500,” which the students can use to sustain and reinvest into their businesses. Siembra offers these cash awards thanks to donations from the McCune Charitable Foundation and other businesses and local entrepreneurs. 

The judges chose three winners of the competition: Sandia Snkrs , La Nueva Generación , and MLT studios . Judging criteria was based on the success of the commercial, whether the business looks professional, if the student showed an ability to fail forward, whether the business could make money, and if the students were able to answer the judges’ questions effectively. 

One of the winners, Brianna Saucedo, created the food truck La Nueva Generación. She believes that thoughtfulness made her commercial stand out in the competition. “I took my time to make my commercial, I wanted it to be as professional as possible,” she said. “I took photos of my food to make it meaningful. I also included people eating my food to make it aesthetically pleasing.”

Another winner, Gabe Baldwin created Sandia Snkrs, a company that buys and resells sneakers and clothing. “I showed [the judges] that I was serious about my business, I wasn’t just doing it to pass the class. I feel like I won based off the effort and time that I spent creating my commercial.” 

Both students plan to continue operating their businesses after they graduate. Saucedo said she used the prize money to buy products for her foodtruck and to build a website for La Nueva Generación. Baldwin said he used the prize money to reinvest in his business by buying more merchandise to sell.

The 2020 school year was the first annual competition, and Tavitas wants to see it evolve in the future. “We hope to continue this momentum of being able to get our seniors funds for their businesses,” she said. “Internally, we have created what is called the Circle of Support which will consist of community partners (entrepreneurs, business owners, etc) who will be a part of a membership where they will donate a certain amount of funds each year.”

With the help of community partners, Siembra Leadership High School is re-thinking the future of education. Competition winner Saucedo can attest to how the school has supported her. “The school has definitely set us up to be successful entrepreneurs—you can create whatever you want to do,” she said. “For me personally, they sent me to CNM and paid for my Street Food Institute class where I worked with actual chefs to build my menu.”

Student winner Baldwin also found his experience at Siembra meaningful. “The school has helped me think about thinking about real-life situations apart from just taking a test,” he said. “We also learn to budget and manage our finances.” 

As Siembra LHS evolves their commercial competitions and senior capstone projects, they are pushing others in the education system to think outside the books. Tavitas is proud to showcase how senior capstones like these provide learning experiences that prepare students for real-world success.

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Finn & Buddy’s Path to Forever

I have grown up having a dog my entire life and have always wished that I could help the dogs who don’t get to have loving families like they deserve. I chose to focus my love of animals into a children’s book about two dogs that are showcased side by side, one side being a dog who gets the life they deserve and the other one that has had a tough life and limited time left.

This children’s story is about two dogs, one named Finn and the other named Buddy. Finn is a therapy dog that goes to hospitals with his owner, Rachel, to help patients. While he has the best life he could think of, he still wants a brother. Buddy is a dog that has been abused his whole life and just recently ended up in a high kill shelter with only a week left until he is euthanized. Buddy wishes for a family that will save him. The book shows the two dogs side by side with a countdown showcasing the week left. Will Buddy get saved in time? Will Finn end up with the brother he so desperately wants?    

This book developmentally fits children 10-14, but it appeals to all ages. This children’s book is loosely based on my real life, as Finn is the name of my current dog and Rachel is the name my that my father originally picked out for me. With this in mind, I felt that I could add another layer of personality to my book. This book is currently available on Amazon and 10% of the proceeds I make on this book goes towards the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty (ASPCA), which helps with the prevention of animal abuse and advocates for more humane laws.

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Sam Fox School presents 95th Annual Fashion Design Show

Collections explore themes of place, material and environment

Online, fashion is often reduced to image. But in life, fashion is highly tactile. The weight of a fabric, the weave of a cloth, the way it drapes or moves with the body — all profoundly shape the wearer’s experience.

For young designers, “I think there’s been a return to material,” said Mary Ruppert-Stroescu, an associate professor and head of fashion design in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis.

“They want to understand how things are made,” added Ruppert-Stroescu, an authority on sustainable design and how new technologies shape fashion innovation. “They’re fascinated by texture and behavior. They’re looking to innovate within that material space.”

On April 27, the Sam Fox School will present its 95th Annual Fashion Design Show in WashU’s historic Holmes Lounge, in Ridgley Hall. One of the oldest such events in the nation, the evening will feature dozens of models wearing scores of outfits, with a particular focus on capstone collections by graduating fashion design majors.

“Our program emphasizes creative leadership,” Ruppert-Stroescu said. “The capstone projects allow students to channel all of their knowledge, and all of their experience, into an expression of their core aesthetic.

“What is it they want to say about the world?”

Resilience and inspiration

The show will open with linen slacks created as part of an introductory course led by senior lecturer Jennifer Ingram and alumna Angelique Joseph (BFA ’91), vice president of design for the shoe brand Naturalizer. Also on the program will be original textiles; laser-cut garments; virtual outfits modeled by avatars; gala ball gowns inspired by land, sea and sky; and dresses made from upcycled Dutch wax batik cloth.

“The theme was resilience,” Ruppert-Stroescu said of the latter project, which introduced students to her patented RECLEM textile recycling system. “Students found a lot of inspiration in the resilience of nature.”

The program then will shift to the senior capstones. Based on months of research, each employs a distinctive visual vocabulary and reflects a rigorous process of research, development, ideation and prototyping.

In “Mirage,” a new collection inspired by her Egyptian ancestry, Leena Bekhiet explores the tensions between distance and proximity, ancient and contemporary, architecture and ornament. “My muse is my motherland,” Bekhiet writes in her designer’s statement. “I create through themes of home and heritage, blissfully inviting color and foreignness into the mundane.”

“Lifelines,” by Ella Dassin, combines neutral palettes, simple silhouettes and original photos and drawings to capture the energy and street life of her native New York. “When we hear the word relationship, we tend to think of a couple,” Dassin observed. “Lifelines” takes a broader view, exploring “how humans view and interact with the world around us, how relationships evolve over time, and how cultures shape relationships.”

With his collection “Fighter,” Michael Hunziker deploys a series of juxtapositions — hard and soft, light and dark, transparent and opaque — to grapple with the Buddhist conception of dukkha, the first of four noble truths, which acknowledges the human inevitability of distress, anxiety and suffering. “We all have traumas,” Hunziker explained. “Let us honor and face these scars.”

Maxine Roeder, in “Featherplight,” examines the beauty of birds and the environmental struggles they face. Her collection, she wrote, “engages the contrast between birds’ purity with their menacing fate,” exploring both “the state of birds and the evolutionary disruption and ecological imbalance resulting from bird decline.”

With its short hemlines and bold, space-age colors, Josie Zimmerman’s “Nostalgia” collection — inspired by the concept of ballet core — exudes playful, retro-futuristic confidence. “I want my clothing to be a way for one to feel mature and outgoing,” she said, “while also feeling youthful and bold all at once.”

Sponsors and awards

The Fashion Design Show is coordinated by Ruppert-Stroescu and sponsored by Tacony Corp., Neiman Marcus Frontenac, St. Louis Fashion Fund and Mother Model Management, with additional support from Dominic Bertani, Dana Dahi and Susan Sanders Block.

The evening also will feature several departmental awards, including:

• The Dominic Michael Silver Scissors Designer of the Year Award . Sponsored by the Dominic Michael Salon for more than two decades, the award is presented to the senior fashion design student who has shown compelling creativity and exceptional skill in fashion design conception and execution.
• The Neiman Marcus Rising Star Award , which recognizes a senior fashion design student whose collection is deemed most marketable. Work from all five senior collections will be on display at Neiman Marcus Frontenac from May 2 to 13, with a reception hosted by Neiman Marcus in the store from 1-3 p.m. May 11.
• The Stars Design Group Award , which grants mentorship and studio space in the Couture Culture incubator to a student whose collection demonstrates high business potential.
• The Silver Ripper Award , sponsored by alumna Susan Sanders Block, is presented to the sophomore or junior fashion design student who has demonstrated the most growth.
• The Riverbend Textiles Sustainable Design Leadership Award , which recognizes exceptional thought and practice toward sustainable fashion design.
• The Fashion Citizenship Award , sponsored by Ruppert-Stroescu and presented to an outstanding second-year fashion design major who demonstrates good citizenship and community engagement.

The 95th Annual Washington University Fashion Design Show will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in WashU’s Holmes Lounge, located in Ridgley Hall. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. A “meet and greet” with the designers will immediately follow the show, in Anabeth and John Weil Hall.

General admission tickets are all reserved. However, the Sam Fox School also will host a free watch party in Weil Hall, as well as an exhibition of two-dimensional student fashion design work. Attendees can then join the after party. To register, or to sign up for the fashion show livestream, visit samfoxschool.wustl.edu .

About the Fashion Design Program The Fashion Design Program in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis offers both BA and BFA degrees. Built on a foundation of art and design, the WashU fashion program challenges students to develop an intellectually rich and relevant narrative about clothing and fashion in contexts ranging from the personal to the industrial.

Comments and respectful dialogue are encouraged, but content will be moderated. Please, no personal attacks, obscenity or profanity, selling of commercial products, or endorsements of political candidates or positions. We reserve the right to remove any inappropriate comments. We also cannot address individual medical concerns or provide medical advice in this forum.

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CEC seniors to be recognized on Awards Day

The University of South Carolina will host the annual Awards Day ceremony to honor student excellence on Thursday, April 18 on the USC Horseshoe. College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) students from each of the 10 undergraduate programs will be recognized for their achievements. 

Outstanding Senior Awards

The Outstanding Senior Awards are given by the CEC to graduating seniors from each degree program. Recipients are faculty recommended and selected based on demonstrated academic excellence, undergraduate research participation, and active involvement in the college and university community.

Aerospace Engineering Andrew Borrelli Hometown: Cherry Hill, New Jersey

“I am grateful to win this award. I have worked hard for the last four years in balancing my school and extra-curricular life, and I am very appreciative to be acknowledged for my efforts. What I will remember most about the last four years are the lab classes that were part of the curriculum. Each class helped me better understand concepts as well sharpening my skills and acclimating me with the possible work and problems I could face in my professional life.”

Biomedical Engineering

Adam Parker Hometown: San Antonio, Texas Post-Graduation Plans: Pursing a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from USC.

"Dr. Nader Taheri Qazvini , who I had class with and worked in his lab, was a helpful professor. Not only was he a good teacher, but he also gave me my first research opportunity and freedom to dive into my own project. Moving forward, I hope to pursue a career in industry research, and I am grateful that he helped me grow as a researcher during my time as an undergraduate.”

Chemical Engineering

Sarah Stofik Hometown: Quakertown, Pennsylvania Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from USC, while working in the Strategic Approaches to the Generation of Electricity SAGE Laboratory under Professor Jochen Lauterbach .

“I will take away the various relationships with professors and other students the most. The professors have always been supportive, which was inspiring. Being a small major and involved in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, I knew my classmates well and formed a supportive community that has made my time even more enjoyable. Getting involved in research and competing in the ChemE Cube competition were the most impactful experiences since it allowed me to get hands-on engineering experiences. It also solidified my decision to pursue a Ph.D., while gaining invaluable mentorship from Dr. Lauterbach and members of the SAGE Laboratory.”

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Macy Mekiliesky Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland Post-Graduation Job: Entry level civil engineering, AECOM

“I am honored to represent the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering as outstanding senior. Being recognized for four years of hard work is extremely validating and not only reassured me that I chose a well-suited major, but the right university. This award will serve as a happy reminder of my time at USC.”

Computer Engineering

Musa Azeem Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at USC.

“One professor that impacted my time at the CEC was Dr. [Homayoun] Valafar . I joined his lab after taking a course with him during my sophomore year, where I was consistently provided opportunities to learn, network and explore my interests in this field. Under his guidance, I developed critical skills and a passion for learning that has been instrumental in shaping my academic journey.”

Computer Information Systems

Terry Hancock Hometown: Pawleys Island, South Carolina

“I'm honored to have my academic efforts recognized by this award. The CEC gave me the skills and knowledge to enter the job market as a confident young professional. My classes with Professor [Portia] Plante were amazing for learning real development skills and using what we learned to create real world applications. Her help and encouragement cemented my love for software development.”

Computer Science and Engineering

Anna Michelitch Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia Post-Graduation Job: Technology Consultant, Ernst & Young

“To me, this award is a testament to my ability to overcome my imposter syndrome as a woman hoping to leave a lasting impact at the intersection of technology and business. Throughout the past four years, everything I've learned and experienced has culminated into a personal vision for a better future, one marked by innovation and positive change. Receiving this award serves as validation that I'm on the right path towards one day bringing these aspirations into reality.”

Electrical Engineering

Matthew Belanger Hometown: Center Valley, Pennsylvania Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in electrical engineering at USC. 

“Receiving the Outstanding Senior Award means a great deal to me. It symbolizes the years of hard work, dedication and commitment to academic excellence. To me, this award represents not just personal achievement, but the endless support and inspiration I've received from professors, mentors, family and friends.” 

Integrated Information Technology

Chloe Wheeler Hometown: Milton, Georgia Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in international business at USC, followed by working as a technology consultant at Protiviti .

“I am so grateful for the awards I have received. I appreciate the constant support from the CEC and the IIT program. Leading within the CEC student organization, Alpha Omega Epsilon, has been such a fulfilling experience. I have enjoyed attending every CEC event, making a positive impact and growing along the way.”

Mechanical Engineering

Daniel Coble Hometown: West Columbia, South Carolina Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.  

“Professor Austin Downey has been helpful in providing opportunities and giving advice since I started doing research with him during my freshman year. He does everything he can to develop his researchers’ résumés with publications and presentations, which helped me during my graduate school applications. He has also always been available for guidance as I chose my future path.”

South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers Outstanding Senior Awards

The South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers ( SCSPE ) Outstanding Senior Awards are given to graduating seniors in seven CEC degree programs. Recipients are faculty recommended and selected based on demonstrated academic excellence and contributions to the engineering profession. 

Aerospace Engineering

Victor Dubceac Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at USC, while working as a graduate researcher for Tanvir Farouk on studying superficial water oxidation. 

“By far the most influential experience I've had is my involvement in undergraduate research since my second semester. I was assigned to design a reactor, and while going through the process was extremely uncomfortable due to my lack of knowledge, it was very rewarding. I learned many important skills, and it prepared me to be a great engineer.” 

Jessica Restivo Hometown: Daniel Island, South Carolina Post-Graduation Plans: Pursue a master’s degree in biomedical engineering at USC. 

“I am grateful to all my professors, whose mentorship has been instrumental to my intellectual and personal growth. Professor [Tarek] Shazly’s biomechanics course taught me to think critically through challenging problems, while Professor [Nicholas] Boltin’s CAD design class enabled me to translate my ideas into physical reality. Dr. [Chandrashekhar] Patel's captivating teaching style transformed complex biological concepts into engaging narratives, demonstrating the value of making learning enjoyable. Additionally, Professor [Silke] Henrich’s guidance in the analysis and presentation of experimental data, in addition to her meticulous coaching in technical writing, has been invaluable to my academic journey. 

The development of these fundamental skills laid the framework for the traumatic brain injury research that I pursued this semester under the supervision of Professor [Ahmed] Alshareef , which has ultimately motivated my interest in pursuing future research. These and many others have immeasurably and positively impacted my time at the university, for which I am truly thankful.”

Emily Carpenter Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina 

“Winning this award means a lot to me because I’m honored to have my achievements recognized by the outstanding staff here. My work ethic was fueled by inspiration from my professors and the admiration I have for my fellow classmates. Being a part of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell laboratory has also given me the chance to explore fascinating projects with an amazing team, and I could not be more thankful to have had such experiences in the field that I never want to stop learning about.”

Valerie Duffey Hometown: Berwyn, Pennsylvania Post-Graduation Job: Engineer I-Technology LDP, Verizon 

“Being the recipient of the SCSPE Outstanding Senior Award is an honor and acknowledgment of the hard work I put toward my goal of becoming a computer engineer. While I am proud of my academic accomplishments, this award serves as a tangible recognition that all my hard work can and does result in distinction. This award also provides motivation for me to continue to strive for greater excellence and to push through difficulties and challenges. I am sure that I will use these behaviors in my role as a computer engineer in the Leadership Development Program at Verizon. I am grateful to the CEC, and my professors and classmates whose encouragement and support have enabled me to achieve this prestigious award.”

Chris Chau Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina Post-Graduation Plans: Starting a summer internship at the Naval Information Warfare Center in Charleston, South Carolina prior to pursuing a master’s degree in electrical engineering at USC. 

“My undergraduate years allowed me to deepen my knowledge in my field, but I also discovered more about myself, made lasting friendships, and created unforgettable memories. I am grateful to Dr. [David] Matolak for his mentorship and guidance, which helped me find the specific field in electrical engineering that best suits me and welcomed me into his research group.”  

Trinity Collette Hometown: Blackstone, Massachusetts Post-Graduation Job: Structural engineer, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

“Winning this award is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion that I have poured into my studies, extracurriculars, and work experiences throughout my academic journey. However, this wouldn't have been possible without the support of my mentors, professors and peers along the way. I am fortunate to have been surrounded by a community in the CEC who have guided, inspired and encouraged me along the way.” 

Sierra Batson Hometown: Irmo, South Carolina Post-Graduation Plans: Pursing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at USC.

“Being recognized as an outstanding senior is an incredible honor, one that I deeply appreciate and cherish. I’m profoundly grateful to the professors and staff at USC who have supported and guided me throughout these four years and have made this achievement possible. This recognition inspires me to continue pushing boundaries and making meaningful contributions to engineering in the future. Thank you for believing in me and for your unwavering support.”

Dean’s Award for Outstanding Leadership

Nominated by faculty or staff, the Dean's Award for Outstanding Leadership recognizes graduating seniors for significant contributions to the CEC. Each award recipient has provided outstanding leadership to a CEC student organization and positively impacted the college's brand through service to the college.

Alexis Allegro Student Organization: American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Hometown: Colts Neck, New Jersey Post-Graduation Job: Rotational chemical engineering, Evonik

“Winning this award means a lot to me. AIChE has given me so much in terms of professional development and introduced me to some of my best friends. I am grateful for the experience and to give back as an officer the past two years. I have learned so much about being a leader and enjoyed getting to inspire the underclassmen to get excited about their future in chemical engineering. Being recognized for this is an honor.”

Remy Bell Student Organization: Biomedical Engineering Society Hometown: Los Angeles, California Post-Graduation Job: Research engineer, Massachusetts General Hospital  

“A professor who has been influential during my time at USC is Dr. Mark Uline , who has been an amazing resource not only for me, but all biomedical engineering students. My academic interests and post-graduation plans have bounced around throughout my time at USC; however, Dr. Uline has been a great resource in helping me narrow down my choices and provided me with the information and connections to make a better-informed decision.” 

Jackson Goldsmith Student Organization: American Society of Mechanical Engineers Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina Post-Graduation Job: Wells engineer, ExxonMobil 

“To me, winning this award is a celebration of everything I have been able to accomplish at the CEC over my four years. It is a reminder of the wonderful people I have had the privilege of working alongside and serving. It is proof of the change and growth I have been able to help cultivate within the college. It is an expression of all the good times and wonderful memories made during my time in engineering at USC.” 

Mahi Patel Student Organization: Women in Computing Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina Post-Graduation Job: Business analyst, Bank of America

“Joining clubs and organizations in the CEC meant finding a support system within the CEC and resources and peers that would grow a community. Becoming a leader in organizations like Women in Computing and the Diversity Gala allowed me to improve upon and continue to grow that support for others coming into CEC and set them up for success like I had. Winning this award means the hard work and dedication paid off and others can get its benefits as I did when I first joined, and I’m leaving it better and improved.”

Christian Smith Student Organization: University Flight Club Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina Post-Graduation Plans: Pursing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at USC. 

“Dr. Mostafa Mobli and Dr. Sang Hee Won have had the biggest impact on my development as an engineer. Dr. Won taught me the standard I should strive for as an engineer every day.  He has helped me hold myself accountable for the quality of work I complete rather than focusing on the quantity. Dr. Mobli truly opened the door for me to begin helping other students and helped me realize my love for teaching. What he does for the college is invaluable, and I strive to follow his example.”  

Jacob Vaught Student Organization: Society of Automotive Engineers Hometown: Aiken, South Carolina Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in electrical engineering.

“During my multi-year journey at the CEC, my most significant and personally impactful takeaway has been the opportunity to contribute to my fellow students' growth and success. My involvement at both student organization and department levels has enabled me to support and enrich our college experience by supporting the department through a variety of events, fostering meaningful connections with current and future students, along with career opportunities.”

Chloe Wheeler Student Organization: Alpha Omega Epsilon

“Leading within the CEC student organization, Alpha Omega Epsilon, has been such a fulfilling experience. I have enjoyed attending every CEC event, making a positive impact and growing along the way.”

Stephen Wilcken Student Organization: Gamecock Railway Society Hometown: Mount Siani, New York Post-Graduation Job: Field engineering trainee, Norfolk Southern

“This award represents not only the culmination of my hard work at the university, but my entire educational career. Since I was young, I strove to be a leader among my peers and better any organization and community I was a part of. Knowing that my efforts have had an impact means the world to me and fuels me to continue my efforts in my professional career. 

The CEC and affiliated student organizations have had a tremendous impact on preparing me for my professional career. Both have brought in professional speakers, and this allowed me to build relationships with these professional engineers. The CEC also held numerous workshops that I used to help prepare for interviews. It was through AREMA that I made connections that helped me to land an internship and later my future job.”

Margaret & Edward Ernst Outstanding Leadership and Service Award (Given by the Department of Electrical Engineering ED Foundation)

Aditya Padala Hometown: Hyderabad, India/Columbia, South Carolina

“Receiving this award holds profound significance for me. Throughout my undergraduate journey, I've had the privilege of supporting my peers as a teaching assistant for three courses, contributing to the academic community in meaningful ways. Balancing multiple responsibilities reflects my unwavering dedication and resilience, fostered by the invaluable support of my professors, mentors and peers in the Department of Electrical Engineering. This award not only honors my leadership efforts and academic accomplishments but also serves as a driving force, inspiring me to continue striving for excellence in all aspects of my pursuits.”

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