Building on Proctor’s longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship, the Environmental Studies Concentration links Proctor’s extensive academic and extracurricular environmental offerings with student-driven goals. Participants in the Environmental Studies Concentration explore the knowledge, skills, and worldviews that address many of society’s most pressing environmental issues.  From forestry management to environmental art, coral reef investigation, and the mental health benefits of wilderness exploration, our Environmental Studies Concentration culminating capstones are chosen from a wide range of subject areas.

Student Examples:
Lobstering | Water Conservation | Climate Change

Student Reflection:
"I have not always been interested in Environmental Science. It was not until my sophomore year when I took AP Environmental Science that my perspective changed. I believe global warming is a big deal and I am passionate about learning more routes that individuals can take in order to help decrease their environmental footprint. I hope to use my capstone as an opportunity to learn more about water conservation and be able to apply that in my everyday life all while positively impacting the Proctor community." - Nate ‘20

The Global Citizenship Concentration allows students intrigued by global issues, world languages, and cultural exploration to investigate beyond the traditional bounds of a single class or course of study and generate a unique academic and world view. The Global Citizenship Concentration incorporates diverse coursework, possibilities for multiple off-campus experiences, community involvement, and the planning and execution of a capstone that ties these aspects together to illustrate the genuine interests of the student. 

Student Examples:
Native American History in Middle Schools | The United States' and the United Fruit Company's Legacy in Latin America | Bottled Water’s Legacy and Embodiment of a Disposable Culture | Saigon: The New Colonialism

Student Reflection:
“During my revisit day in the spring of my freshman year, I was able to speak to Tom Morgan about the wonderful capstone project opportunities here at Proctor, and I was hooked. I have always had a knack for history and international politics, so it was only fitting that I pursue the Global Citizenship capstone project. As I dive headfirst into the research process, I am looking forward to discovering new pieces of information that I have never learned about before. I am driven by the thought of expanding my knowledge and discovering new areas of study, and my capstone project is a great way for me to achieve these goals.” - Ryan '20 

With an emphasis on creative arts, a Creative Studies concentration provides the venue for students to illustrate self-expression and the artistic process throughout their coursework, extracurricular, and community service activities. 

Creativity lies at the heart of all human development and innovation. Proctor’s Creative Studies Concentration accommodates a wide range of interests, encouraging creative voice across disciplines including arts, sciences, humanities, and technology. With an emphasis on creative arts, this is the perfect concentration for students to illustrate self-expression and the artistic process throughout their coursework, extracurricular, and community service activities. Through the capstone, Creative Studies students showcase their individual perspectives on their chosen issue through any combination of mediums: visual, industrial, performing, media & literary arts.

Student Examples:
Land Art & the Creative Sublime |Cultural Fluency in a World of Walls

Student Reflection:
“I was initially inspired by my advisor, Shauna Turnbull, to complete a capstone project my senior year—she frequently encourages my participation in extracurriculars that are in-line with artistic interests of mine. I am quite looking forward to this outdoor art-creating process! I am grateful for having this incentive to get out in the woodlands and to learn to let go as nature takes its course.” - Ingrid ‘20

In the Social Justice Concentration students develop an acute understanding of the forces and causes which form the roots of social problems as well as their sense of humility and compassion.

Students invested in social justice, human rights, multiculturalism, or issues such as social inequality, discrimination, and perspectives of marginalized citizens gravitate toward Proctor’s Social Justice Concentration. This Concentration aims to engender a sense of humility and compassion as well as an acute understanding of the forces and sources which form the roots of social problems. Students graduating from Proctor’s Social Justice Concentration complete a minimum of 30 hours of community service, engage in social justice issues near their home or campus, and design and complete a capstone that communicates their findings to a broader audience. 

Student Examples:
Death Row & the Wrongfully Convicted

Student Reflection:
“I have always been interested in both law and human rights. Three years ago, I worked as an intern in the Vermont State House, where I witnessed a lot of behind the scenes policy work. This internship helped spark my interest in law and the possibility of pursuing it in college. Recently I watched Just Mercy with my family; this movie opened my eyes to the reality of injustice in our court system. I continued to do some research about Death Row and how victims could be wrongfully convicted of a crime. I am fascinated with this whole idea, which bridges my interests in both law and social justice.”  - Ayla ‘21

Students leverage Proctor’s technology lab, experiential programs, and broad offerings in science and math curriculum when they participate in the STEM concentration to put their spin on the Proctor experience. STEM participants can explore hands-on opportunities in STEM-related occupations, take classes from a body of relevant coursework, participate in applied extracurricular activities, and complete and present a capstone with both hands-on and research components.  The culminating capstone works presented by STEM students take the form of innovative engineering designs, neuroscience investigations, and biochemical.

Student Examples:
Computer Assisted Design

Student Reflection:
“Using Computer Assisted Design, Arduino, and a 3-D printer, I developed a drone to function via a remote controller. The foundation of my work and my passion for technology sprung from my participation in Engineering and Robotics at Proctor. It is exciting having the opportunity to pursue a STEM Concentration and create a unique capstone project beyond the technology classes I have already taken at Proctor.” - Camden '21