Teachers’ Senior Capstone

Senior Capstone is a requirement if you attend GMC in your senior year, and every year GMC teacher grades all the projects. Many teachers have been here for years and therefore have seen multiple projects, whether they failed or succeeded. What would GMC teachers do if they were a student here at GMC?

Mr. Cook – Project

I would want to either write a novel or build a fully-functional arcade cabinet. 

Who would you want to be your mentor?

My friend’s dad in high school built arcade cabinets

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

I know nothing about programming or compiling games, and I know even less about wiring. The arcade cabinet would be challenging as well because I don’t know how to cast plastics or perform the kind of woodworking it would involve. For a novel, I’d had a hard time staying focused on one consistent story for the amount of time required to finish a large-scale story. 

Dr. Whatley – Project

I would propose a 7-day, solo wilderness survival experience as my project.

Who would you want to be your mentor?

Donny Dust

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Documenting my research, actually surviving for 7 days without prepared food: foraging and hunting.

Ms. Teel – Project

I would like to learn skills needed for the design and construction of furniture with a focus on styles from the 1880-1920s.

Who would you want to be your mentor?

A qualified woodworker who has access to many of the tools I would need.

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Learning how to recreate antique pieces with modern equipment paying attention to the details in the same way artisans did during the 1880s-1920s.

Ms. Quinlan – Project

I would want to create a new nutrition and exercise plan for myself. As someone who is really struggling with their health, it would take me at least the whole school year to look for proper foods and the correct diet for myself that I would follow. I would also want to create an exercise plan that I would stick to.

Who would you want to be your mentor?

Maybe a personal trainer or nutritionist

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Sticking to the diet and exercise plan

Mrs. Hunter – Work-Based Partnership

I would have wanted to work with a financial planner and someone who helps people budget on a daily basis (not just manage retirements and large sums of money)

Who would you want to be your mentor?

Someone who was in that field

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Being encouraged to take that step. My dad said that helping people and couples budget wasn’t a real job, so that was a bummer. In reality, I think it’s probably a lucrative job and something I would have really enjoyed since I love money. (I wouldn’t trade teaching math, though, because I LOVE that!!!)

Mr. LaPoe – Project

Vermicomposting

Who would you want to be your mentor?

Robby Hayes at Atlas Organics

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Convincing Mrs. LaPoe to allow me to keep worms. Honestly, though, it would be just keeping conditions right so to not lose the colony.

Mrs. Rouse – Work-Based Partnership

Business

Who would you want to be your mentor?

My business partner

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

The greatest challenge is the placement. For instance, there have been incredible placements where students have been given much responsibility and risen to the challenge. The best scenario is a student discovers his or her passion for a career. These students appear to enjoy their work-based partnerships the most. Whereas, other students are at sites where business partners may not have the time to invest or may give students monotonous and basic tasks that no one else at the business wants to do. Those students are quick to realize that they are not receiving the same valuable and challenging experience as other peers might be.

Mr. Frans – Project

Learn to play the guitar

Who would you want to be your mentor?

Eddie Van Halen

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Keeping Sammy Hagar in the band.

Mrs. Oyervides – Work-Based Partnership

When I was in high school, I really wanted to work in dentistry, so I could see myself following that path for WBP!

Who would you want to be your mentor?

A dental hygienist? I don’t have a specific person.

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Time management (and motivation, if I think about how my high school self was) of doing all the research and wire assignments! It’s a lot to keep up with!

Daddy Mac – Work-Based Partnership

Outdoors / Horticulture/ Botanical Garden / Park Service/Agriculture Science

Who would you want to be your mentor?

A professional with experience in one of these fields.

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Finding a mentor who is willing to devote time. Winter is not ideal, so this project should start in June before senior year begins.

Mrs. Timanus – Work-Based Partnership

Political Campaign Intern

Who would you want to be your mentor?

Local state-level politician

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

It would be fun and challenging to learn about the strategies and tools used to run a political campaign.

Mrs. Meyers – Project

I’d want to get my pilot’s license.

Who would you want to be your mentor?

There are a couple of small airstrips around the Greenville/Spartanburg area, and I would probably work with one of them.

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Raising the money to be able to take lessons and finding a mentor that would be willing to work with a minor.

Mrs. Dentler – Project

Coffee Table / Book Viewbook / Photography – I would study photography and take pictures documenting the everyday life of GMC Students, focusing on class, clubs, athletics, service, events, and students just hanging out in the halls, parking lot, and lunch.

Who would you want to be your mentor?

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Note-taking guides!

Mrs. Long – Work-Based Partnership

Work with the State Parks/ Wilderness areas to learn outdoor skills and/or park management skills.

Who would you want to be your mentor?

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Advocating for myself to get a position and to ask for help

Mr. Rainey – Work-Based Partnership

Attorney

Who would you want to be your mentor?

What do you believe would be your greatest challenge?

Not sure

Thank you to all the teachers that participated in this article!