From surfing to animal healing therapies, this year's projects are varied and fascinating. Some students choose projects which are related to a future career interest while others choose projects which simply pique their interests.
Students first choose their topics of interest. After a topic is established, they write a research paper relating to their topic. After the paper is written, students perform field work for their 15-hour project. Finally, after the field research and the field project is complete, seniors write their speeches and prepare to present their projects to a panel of judges consisting of staff and community members.
Senior Amy Kehoe did her senior project on animal therapy for people. Kehoe chose this topic because it was related to her future career choice: veterinarian. In her paper, she wrote about the effects of animal ownership on humans and for her field project, she worked at the California Dog and Cat Hospital.
Kehoe said that the work at the pet hospital would help her get the required recommendations for acceptance into a veterinarian program.
"To get into vet school, you need three different recommendations," Kehoe said.
Senior Heather Iwata, unlike Kehoe, did not choose a senior project because it would help her in a future career opportunity; rather Iwata chose salsa dancing simply because it was fun. Her paper was on the rise in popularity of salsa dancing and her physical project was choreographing a salsa dance for a couple.
Iwata described her senior project experience and how she needed to submerge herself into the cultural aspects of the project.
"It is a totally different culture to consider," Iwata said. "Also you must have a feeling for the music you are dancing to. Otherwise, it would just be dancing. You need a feel for it."
Senior Raymond Chan has his eyes set on financial gain as his senior project was on Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Chan's report was on the history of IRAs and strategies for investing. In his physical project, Chan applied his strategies in an investment simulation.
"The senior project forced me to learn something that I always wanted to learn but was too lazy to do," Chan said.
Fashion and design was the topic of interest for junior Cathy Nguyen, who attained senior status through summer school. After writing a paper on sweatshops, Nguyen, who is also this year's prom queen, chose to make her own prom dress for her physical project.
Nguyen had a piece of advice for this year's junior class regarding the senior project.
"I think that it is very important not to procrastinate because I did and I had to finish all of my work within a week," Nguyen said.
Surfing was the topic of choice this year for senior Gaeleen Pengally. He also chose the topic because he thought that it would be a fun experience. Pengally's paper was on the history of surfing, while his field project was learning how to surf and produce a surfing movie.
Many students liked their senior projects and thought that it was a great learning experience.
"I thought my project was fun," Iwata said. "I think that the projects give seniors something to work toward and earn their diplomas."
However, there were those that did not enjoy their senior project as much as they thought they would initially.
"I think that the senior project sucked," Pengally said. "It turned something fun into a requirement."
On May 18, seniors presented their final senior projects to the judges.
"I'm really glad it's over," senior Amy Hunt, who did her project on hand bells, said. "I've been stressing all day - I'm so relieved that the year long project has finally come to an end."
Many of the community judges were impressed by what they saw.
"It [grading senior projects] was great fun for judges, and it was great to see the learning stretch that the students had to take," Record business editor Eric Grunder said. "It really goes to show that learning stretches don't only occur in college. It really gives you a real sense of accomplishment."
"The senior projects were very well done," parent Charlotte Doisy said. "I was very impressed, especially that they [the students] put so much effort into the projects."
"I truly enjoyed grading the senior projects," parent Lori Hall said. "I didn't know what to expect, but I was really impressed. The students did a fantastic job with research which gave them good experience for college."