What is the Capstone Project?

In the spring of their Junior year, Honors Academy members will begin a capstone project to serve as a culminating experience to the high school career.

• This project can be an academic extension of the student’s elective focus or a community based project developed by the senior, in collaboration with a mentor.

• The Capstone project has a research, writing, and presentation component with a community need/interest component to showcase each senior’s unique focus and strengths.

 

Capstone Project Outcomes:

As seniors who complete a successful Capstone Project, you can expect these results:

• Receive positive feedback from persons in the community

• Engage in self-reflection

• Tie your interests to real-world relevance

• Use an interdisciplinary approach to learning (which means you can showcase your best style of learning as well as your strengths and talents)

• Gain a sense of compassion for others

• Feel satisfaction for a job well done 

 

Types of Capstone Projects:

 

Self Development/ Curriculum Based Research Project

• Research project on a topic of interest (may be curricular or self-development)

 

Examples:

1. Participate in the Siemens or Intel Science Research Expositions

2. Write and produce a play and present to a community group like a senior citizen home/ after school program.

3. Create art/ photography with a similar theme and host a show at an interested community group’s site

4. Research a specific aspect of academic interest (i.e. history of the Roman army) and create a display at a local library or present to interested community group

5. Research and develop a solution to a real-world problem and present to an interested community group

• Keep a log of at least 20 hours describing your project’s development minimum

• Presentation in the community- i.e. a library exhibit, public performance

 

 

Internship/ Externship

• Job-Shadowing in a career of interest

• Journal Log of at least 20 hours minimum

 

Examples:

• Internships at Methodist Hospital, St. Jude, Memphis Zoo

• Research component- career exploration- What does it take to go into this field?

• Service component- present internship experience to a community group (HOSA, FBLA, DECA, Boy/Girl Scouts etc.)

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Service Learning

• Design a project that involves the community in raising awareness/ providing solutions to a community issue (Illiteracy, Bullying, Recycling)

• Working in a community service environment for an extended period of time (organize a build for Habitat for Humanity)

• Organize drives, collection, fundraisers, clean-ups for a community service agency

• Advocate for a community issue including lobbying, finding causes, and taking those findings to government leaders requesting solutions

• Must keep a log of 20 hours of service/project development minimum

• Research component: studying the issue and the organization

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Core Components of the Capstone Project:

• an approved proposal containing what you are trying to learn;

• documented research and contact hours with a mentor;

• a short written paper, using MLA documentation;

• an oral presentation that demonstrates the research and knowledge learned;

• a review panel that evaluates the project.

• Participation in “A Celebration of Excellence” with a display of your project

 

 

Students are expected to spend at least 20-40 hours of work on their Capstone Project.

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Capstone Project Deadlines:

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Capstone Deadlines and Rubric Class of 2023

Capstone Deadlines and Rubric Class of 2024

 

Capstone Forms/Links:

Proposal Form Link

Mentor Form Link 

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Capstone Time Log

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Capstone Paper Guidelines

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Capstone Oral Presentation Form