Senior Capstones Reach beyond Classroom Knowledge
Senior capstones provide an opportunity for soon-to-be-graduates to select a topic that has sparked their interest, conduct further research, and present findings to the College community. The variety of capstones reveals an impressive range of interests among Principia students.
A passionate advocate for finding solutions to complex issues, global perspectives major Moriah Early-Manchester (pictured above) is especially interested in Germany and its post-World War II struggle to come to terms with the Holocaust. Moriah spent her junior year in Munich, immersing herself in German culture and becoming fluent in the language. While there, she interviewed locals about the evolution of Germany as its citizens strive to move from guilt to collective responsibility as a way to reestablish national identity. To identify similar issues and constructive efforts in other parts of the world, she also researched genocide in Rwanda, Cambodia, and Iraq.
Having lived abroad for over half his life as a “military brat,” sociology and anthropology major Henry Hathaway explored the impact of frequent moves on children in military families—a topic that has not been researched very thoroughly, he discovered. “There are pros and cons for these children,” he noted in his presentation. “They often develop a strong sense of global citizenry and resilience, but they may also struggle with attachment issues and anxiety. It’s in everyone’s interest to understand what these families experience and how to support them.”
As part of their capstone process, biology and environmental studies students held a poster presentation about their theses. For example, Andrew Jesper’s “Movement Patterns of Timber Rattlesnakes” presented research findings discovered in conjunction with veterinary scientists at the Saint Louis Zoo. And Adam Eckert shared results from his research in Montana in a poster titled “Using Ecological Niche Models to Predict the Location of Northern Hawk Howl (Surnia ulula) Nest Sites in Glacier National Park.”
Showcasing the Fine Arts
Students majoring in the fine arts seized the opportunity of capstones to perform, direct, paint, and take photos. Music major and drummer Alex Griffin gave a recital featuring jazz and Latin music, including songs he arranged for his trio. Senior theatre arts majors presented a series of one acts, which they oversaw entirely—from selecting the pieces to casting and directing them. The students also documented text analysis and the guiding principles for design and technical elements, concluding with a presentation explaining and defending their artistic choices. Finally, senior art majors worked together on an exhibit of large-scale paintings, multimedia pieces, graphic designs, and photography. They installed the collection and hosted an opening for the show in Radford Gallery.
Our graduates frequently report the lasting benefits of their capstone projects. Those who continue on to graduate school often say that the research required for their capstone was on par with graduate-level work. In fact, two members of the Class of 2015, one of whom is now in graduate school, had their thesis work published in scientific journals. Others note that the presentation skills they gained prepared them for success in the workplace.