Senior Projects: Choosing your own unique curriculum 

The Senior Project is a WHS tradition at the end of the year in which seniors choose almost anything to do a project on for English class. While this is a fun way to end senior year, the purpose of this project is to do something that a WHS class could not provide for a student. The goal for seniors is to develop a new skill while using research in one form or another. From hiking projects to surfing lessons, turning a puppy into a therapy dog and learning how to cook, seniors have taken this project in all different directions. Here are some cool ones that seniors are working on right now.

by Carly McDevitt
The Senior Project is a WHS tradition at the end of the year in which seniors choose almost anything to do a project on for English class. While this is a fun way to end senior year, the purpose of this project is to do something that a WHS class could not provide for a student. The goal for seniors is to develop a new skill while using research in one form or another. From hiking projects to surfing lessons, turning a puppy into a therapy dog and learning how to cook, seniors have taken this project in all different directions. Here are some cool ones that seniors are working on right now.

Student body President Katie Brown has set a goal to meet 100 new students at WHS. Naming her project “100 Handshakes,” Brown said that she was enlightened about the benefits of human connection after an interview with Ms. Maureen Mazzarese, the Director of Counseling for grades K-12. Brown said that she has faced some challenges upon reaching her goal: “It’s kind of hard to go up to a stranger and ask them if they want to meet me.” Brown said that she was inspired by her participation in leadership conferences. “I would meet so many interesting people at these conferences, and I thought there had to be so many interesting people at WHS, so why not!”

For his Senior Project, Eric Varakian is creating a junk sculpture “strictly out of items that are considered useless, recyclable or that [he is] able to salvage.” His goal is to create a product that is meaningful and communicates a message about saving the environment. Said Varakian: “Through my research so far I have learned how much humans are actually hurting the environment. The amount of pollution and overuse of resources is overwhelming and something needs to change soon.” While his project is still in the early stages, Varakian thinks that a challenge he might face will be trying to piece all the materials together to send a message through the sculpture. In order to help with this challenge, Varakian is being mentored by art teacher Mr. Roy Chambers, who has experience with junk sculptures and has even made some of his own. “I can go to Mr. Chambers for any help or guidance,” said Varakian.

Jesse Zimmermann, who will be attending Fordham University in New York for acting next year,  is directing and filming a scene done in sign language to raise awareness for the Deaf West Theatre Company, and is being mentored by drama teacher Mr. Daniel Devlin. Since beginning her project, Zimmermann said she has learned a lot about deaf acting and sign language itself, along with acting in general. Said Zimmermann: “I decided to do this as my senior project after I became very interested in deaf acting when I saw Spring Awakening this past winter. I think that it is really important to recognize how theatre reaches all audiences. In the past, those who were deaf could not enjoy theatre like everyone else, but theatres like the Deaf West are making it available to everyone. I think that is really special.”

These three projects are just an example of the creativity WHS produces. Like these three seniors, everyone is in the midst of making their Senior Project great and ending their academic years at WHS with a bang.