Class of 2021 Senior Projects Shine
Documenting unseen beauty in America’s forgotten ghost towns, exploring women’s equality through fashion design, apprenticing under a world-class Esports player, working to end plastic pollution in our oceans—are you intrigued to learn more? These are just some of the topics that the 2021 Upper School graduating class pursued as senior projects—a longstanding Principia tradition. This year, the 57 intrepid seniors stretched themselves and brought their passions and interests to life.
As one of their graduation requirements, seniors create and complete an independent project. They write a proposal, present their idea for critique and feedback, execute it, and deliver a formal presentation summarizing the project in front of faculty, students, parents, and other community members. Senior projects provide an opportunity to learn through exploration and experience.
Sarah Leedberg and other faculty advisors and mentors work with seniors throughout the entire process. The projects are a way for students to take what they’ve been honing and mastering in the classroom out into the world, Leedberg says, developing valuable skills and pushing learning boundaries along the way.
“Through these projects, students have ample opportunity to use and develop the 21st-century skills of critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication,” Leedberg says. “Students should use this unique project as a chance to look outward and see how they can use their talents and abilities to create real impact in the community.”
The topics this year are as unique and varied as the class of 2021. Here are a few examples, including links to videos with more information:
Brianna Shipley
Budding photographer Brianna Shipley explored the impact of diminishing towns in the United States. Combining her love for photojournalism, travel, and history, Brianna ventured out to forgotten communities and ghost towns around the western part of the country to document their hidden beauty and unique stories—while examining what can be done to preserve the rich history they tell.
Sullivan Grant
Sports fanatic Sullivan (Sully) Grant grew up a die-hard Tennessee Volunteers fan and lover of all things athletic. For his project, Sully decided to dig deeper into the world of sports, researching the influence of sports on our society while working to understand the dichotomy of how sports can bring communities together and also contribute to the general polarization we see today.
Rachel Stewart and Trinity Thomas
Growing up in coastal towns on opposite sides of the country gave seniors Rachel Stewart and Trinity Thomas something to bond over and provided a shared goal to fight a prevalent problem in the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems. Their love for the beach, marine life, and sustainability combined into a mission to combat plastic pollution in our oceans. Researching local rivers, the duo shared their findings on the effects of plastic in our oceans and environment while working to find actionable solutions to the problem.
Holly Friborg
For emerging designer and history buff Holly Friborg, fashion and women’s rights go hand in hand. For her project, Holly explored the changes in fashion throughout the years and examined the historical events pivotal in shaping progress for women’s equality. In addition to research, Holly designed and created a dress based on a 1740s design for an upper-class woman. She made the dress entirely by hand.