DUCATION ..... E
Graduation
Projects
Students have final shot to make the grade
EMILY WEAVER
eweaver@kingsmountainherald. com
People from different professions,
throughout the community, showed up to
judge the KMHS Graduation Projects late
Wednesday afternoon, May 24th, at the
high school. One hundred and two eager
soon-to-be grads were dressed in their
casual best with smiles and manners
turned on high. They were nervous. Some
showed it all too well, while others did an
excellent job of hiding it.
Each group, consisting of about five
judges, was assigned five senior projects
to pass or fail. Many were eager to see the
~ products and ideas of the bright minds of
Kings Mountain's youth. While the youths
were eager for it all to be over. “The over-
~ all Graduation Project grade accounts for
25% of each student's final grade,” said
Marcie McCready, the coordinator for this
‘year’s projects and judging.
There were no podiums to lean on, no
chairs to sit in. A solitary table in the cen-
ter of the room was available for students
to display their posters and products. The
seniors had to stand tall beside them, cen-
ter of the room, with all eyes on them and
only note cards to guide their speech.
Whitney Roper took the floor first in her
group. She conducted her research on the
importance of the “Head Start” program
with 18 children, aged 5 and under, at
Graham Elementary in Shelby. Beginning
in 1964, by a task force recommendation,
Head Start has been used as an early
childhood development program, striving
to increase the school readiness and learn-
ing preparation of young children in low-
income families. Roper made up a short
rap to teach her children about brushing
~ their teeth. The rap was designed to stay
in their memory, but she learned that it is
also forever burned in her own memory. “I
hear Joe I Lo ay Emily Canipe calmly presented her project on donating bone marrow. She
; : : may have been a ball of nerves inside but her message came out crystal
with the children and has decided to clear. She organized a bone marrow drive as part of her project. Top Left
Corner: Thomas Grindell was very nervous telling about his project to the
; group of judges. But his words flowed more clearly once he had his prod-
See Project, 2B. uct (a welded iron bench) by his side. j
Left: A student
showed her product,
an iron grill, to her
group of judges. She
spent many hours
welding, sanding and
painting it to perfec-
tion. Right: Maurice
Bridges entered the
room and shook hands
with all of the judges.
His charming first
impression made the
heartfelt message in
his presentation shine.
Bottom Left: Thomas
Grindell showed the
judges his iron bench
that he welded and
painted in his spare
time. Bottom Right: A
lot of patience and
hard work was put into
these senior projects.
Melissa Weston sewed
and designed her own
dress for the prom.
Whitney Roper shared a rap about brushing teeth with os
the judges that she used with 3, 4 and 5-year-olds in
her research. Below: LaShay Scruggs brought in first (
aid kits that she created with her boy scout troop in
Gastonia.
~ become a psychologist.
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