As the school year winds down and spring approaches, The toughest part of senior year hit the Class of 2010. Senior project time is full of the stress of prepping, performing, and presenting a senior project that gives back to the community which supports Reitz High School.  

The senior project is a year-long, service-oriented assignment that aims to give the graduating seniors a taste of what it means to be a productive member of society. From that service project, the students produce a research paper on a related topic.

The goal of these service projects is to give time and talent to a particular civic organization, as well as help them raise needed funds to continue their work.

After the project is completed, a review of the presentation is given to a panel of community members, judging the scope of the project and gauging what the students have learned through the process.  

Every year students devise some very creative ways to give back to their community, and this year was no exception.

Stephanie Dieg chose to use her senior project obligation to help organize and run the annual Reitz Speech Invitational, a forensics meet held at the school on February 6.

“I just wanted to help out the team,” said Dieg on her motivations. “It was a fun project.”

When students begin the process of developing their senior project, they often turn to charities and causes that are close to their heart.

Carly May held a benefit show at Christian Fellowship Church on February 23; the music show included both solo artists (Travis May, Dylan Woodall, Sam Lynn, and Joesph Effinger) and bands, including Stereo Shout Out and CFC’s youth worship band.

“I really love music,” said May on why she chose a concert-type event for her project. “And [Krabbe's disease] really affects my family.”

The show benefited Hunter’s Hope Foundation, which itself funds research for finding a cure to Krabbe disease; May’s cousin suffers from the affliction, inspiring her to choose that beneficiary and help educate her peers about the disease.

Often students turn to projects that allow students to explore areas that they were interested in.

Riley Smith chose to stick with education itself with her project, volunteering with Chelsea Cline to help teach a children’s class at her church

“I chose it because my church needed help with activities and volunteers to lead classes,” said Smith. She saw it as an open opportunity to “be around” and “help” kids.

In the class, the children participated in sports activities with an emphasis on sportsmanship, thanks to Smith and Cline’s efforts.

Riane Houchins and Nicole Yurks continued the theme of helping children by making fleece “Spirit Blankets” with Riane’s mother’s special-education class.

Her mother, Missy Houchins, teaches at Boonville Middle School. Riane and Nicole traveled there to help the class create the blankets, completed in December.

“We knew we wanted to work with the class because they get excited when they have guests,” said Yurks on why she decided to perform the project in the class rather than externally.

The profits, made from selling the blankets at football games, totaled near $200 and was donated to Mrs. Houchins’ class field trip budget; they will use the trips to educate the children on future opportunities to thrive as handicapped individuals.

With yet another children’s outreach project, Cameron Waller and Joey Tadros teamed up to hold a “Personal Fitness Day” on March 1, where they helped educate the elementary school students on the effects of of diabetes and how rates for the disease are rising.

Tadros’ mother is employed as an endocrinologist (a branch of medicine dealing with diabetic patients, among others) at Deaconess Hospital, which inspired them to concern their project with that area of science.

Mary Arnold and Stephanie Thompson used their time to raise money for children suffering from Epidermolysis Bullosa, a skin disease affecting 50 out of every 1 million live births worldwide.

“[We] learned of some affected children through the media,” said Arnold. When asked about her reasoning, she stated they “just love their family.”

One of the biggest projects held this year was a benefit for Hunter Hoffman, a freshman football player that suffered a stroke earlier this year.  

One of Hoffman’s long-time friend, Alec Ricketts, organized a benefit concert at the 4H Center.  The show included an auction, bake sale, donation jar and several local bands entertaining the crowd. Overall, the show raised over $4,200 to help cover the expenses of Hoffman’s recovery.

The senior projects covered a wide range of activities and charities, from financial literacy to raising funds for the humane society. Through these projects, the seniors learned new skills and knowledge and gained a new appreciation of their place in the community that surrounds them.