Senior Project exhibition
By Woody Hines

  One hundred fifty-eight seniors will showcase five weeks’ worth of their work in the Senior Project Exhibition today, culminating a process that began in September.
  “We’re very proud of all the seniors and grateful to all the students and adults who could support the program,” Ms. Susan Thorngren, one of the Senior Project coordinators said.
  This year’s seniors offer a wide array of topics, ranging from a student who choreographed and produced his own dance show, to a girl who interned at a luxury dog hotel with first class accommodations for canines.
  Other students worked at bakeries, hospitals, and social service organizations; one student worked at a forensics lab.
  Three students traveled to other countries: Israel, Italy, and Japan. Others opted to travel out of state, including a visit to Yellowstone National Park.
  While roughly 80% of students in Senior Project test out possible jobs, the project may have other focuses, Ms. Sonya Seifert, the other coordinator, said.
  Many students do musical projects or learn to play instruments, while others may do research papers.
  Students will bring in DVDs, bakery treats, music made, kittens, and a dog. “Every student designs a cool visual display and prepare an oral presentation,” Seifert said.
  “Senior Project is a chance for students to explore their passions in one of four areas: career, creative, service, and academic,” Thorngren said.
  The process for the project is lengthy, marked by multiple orientations and several meetings with staff and faculty. Nearly 350 students initially planned to take part in Senior Project.
  Seifert and Thorngren offer guidance for students throughout the process, fielding concerns from teachers and advisers, tracking students, and helping them write proposals.
  Each student has six adults for support—a consultant, four volunteers, and a sponsor within the New Trier community.
  Seiffert and Thorngren tout the program for offering students a chance to have hands-on experience with an interest outside of school.
  “A lot of students say they learn more on project then in classes. You can discover talents and passions unrelated to test scores and GPAs,” Thorngren said.
  “Just seeing the exhibition could change your life,” Seifert said. “Life is all about knowing your options and this offers a way to learn about things you may not have thought of.”
  The exhibition will take place in G108 and G109 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.