Schools

Sunlake Seniors Pull Out All The Stops

A year's worth of work culminated in judged final presentations.

Speaking before a panel of judges isn’t easy for most people. senior Sergio Castillo, 18, did it without breaking a sweat.

Castillo was one of about 350 students to present their senior projects last week. Pasco County high schools have adopted senior projects as a major part of the 12th-grade English class curriculum, said Mary Gelovich, the senior projects coordinator.

The project is a year-long effort that includes five components. Students must first choose a topic and produce a research paper on it. They then undergo a mentorship with someone that can better help them understand their topic. During the course of the mentorships, they have to create a “product” that illustrates what they’ve uncovered. Finally, they must create a PowerPoint presentation and deliver it to a panel of three judges.

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Senior projects aren’t necessarily mandatory, Gelovich said, but they are a big chunk of a student’s final English grade.

“It’s not a graduation requirement, but it can make or break a grade,” she said. Each quarter, students are graded on certain portions of the project. The project counts for about 25 percent of the final grade.

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Gelovich said many students start their senior year not wanting to do the project. But, in completing the steps, they learn about something they’re interested in while building skills that will be valuable in college or in future careers.

Plus, there’s “a sense of accomplishment and pride,” she added.

Castillo chose to do a project on being a law enforcement officer. He mentored with a family friend who is a retired detective. For his product, he solved a mock case his mentor put together for him.

“I’ve always been interested in that career,” Castillo explained.

That’s one of the main points of the project, Gelovich said.

“They choose a subject they are passionate about,” she said.

Writing the research paper was the hardest part, Castillo said. Presenting was a close second.

“I was a little nervous,” he admitted.

Sunlake’s graduation ceremony is set for May 28 at the Tampa Convention Center.


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