Senior Project 2025: Learning By Doing

Starting with Wilderness Orientation, Proctor students embark on a hands-on, experiential learning adventure that spans their academic careers. Senior Project represents the culmination of this journey – a two-and-a-half-week immersive opportunity for seniors to design their own learning experience centered around their passions and interests. In a rapidly evolving world where artificial intelligence can increasingly handle tasks once considered uniquely human, from writing essays and solving complex problems to creating art and analyzing data, educators thoughtfully examine how learning experiences can best prepare students for the future. While Senior Project is not new, it exemplifies this forward-thinking approach, focusing not only on knowledge acquisition but on developing the capacities for deep engagement, creative problem-solving, human connection, and finding meaning – qualities that remain distinctly human in an AI-augmented world.

These self-directed projects require students to apply time management, project planning, and self-advocacy skills as they brainstorm, collaborate, network, and implement their visions. While the final showcase, the Senior Project Exhibition on Wednesday, at 3:30 pm on May 21 in the Farrell Field House is a highlight, the value of Senior Project lies in the process itself – the growth, the challenges overcome, and the confidence gained in pursuing one's interests independently. 

The Framework - The Senior Project Proposal

Every Senior Project begins with a comprehensive proposal process that requires students to articulate clear goals, establish meaningful connections with mentors, and develop realistic timelines for their work. Whether they choose the “full project” (70 hours) or the “abbreviated project” (50 hours for students balancing athletics, AP classes, or performing arts commitments), all seniors must demonstrate the same level of thoughtful planning and commitment.

Take, for instance, Mateo's Mountain Classroom Experience Movie proposal. His project exemplifies how students can blend personal interests with professional skill development while creating something valuable for the broader Proctor community. By filming his Winter Mountain Classroom experience, conducting interviews with participants, and producing a documentary, Mateo will develop his technical and creative abilities and develop  a compelling visual narrative that captures the essence of one of Proctor's off-campus programs.

"I grew up around cameras, both video and photo," Mateo explains in his proposal. "As I begin my journey in Winter Mountain Classroom, I've decided that this is the perfect opportunity and time in my life to pursue my growing interest in capturing moments through a lens.” He continues, “I want to improve my camera skills, interviewing techniques, marketing skills, and my video and photo editing abilities. This project ties into many fields of interest in my life and will help me sharpen various techniques. I believe that through this project, I will significantly benefit, but so will Proctor." 

The Diversity of Experiences

From dedicated time to complete Academic Concentration projects to community service, artistic expression, and environmental conservation, this year's projects reflect the diverse interests and talents of this year’s graduating class.

Sophie - Open Door Clinic

Sophie's internship at Middlebury's Open Door Clinic provides a window into healthcare access challenges and community service. "The clinic serves people who are uninsured or underinsured and provides them with healthcare," Sophie explains in one of her blog posts. During her internship, she has taken on a variety of administrative tasks – from sending appointment reminders to compiling a comprehensive dental referral database for Vermont. Her research revealed startling gaps in dental care access: "Out of the 65 practices I surveyed, only 12 of them were accepting new patients in the year of 2025 for general dentistry. Very few of these accepted Medicaid, and most of them were referral-based practices." This investigative work will help the clinic better serve patients facing dental emergencies who need timely consultations. Beyond administrative duties, Sophie is developing her Spanish language skills by communicating with Spanish-speaking patients and exploring the clinic's involvement with El Viaje Mas Caro or "The Most Costly Journey,”  a non-fiction comics anthology telling the stories of Latin American migrant farmworkers in Vermont. Her experience provides insights into the challenges migrant farmworkers and recent immigrants more broadly face, while developing skills in communication, and case and database management that may serve her well in future endeavors.

Jane - Wilderness First Responder Certification

Jane's pursuit of professional certification demonstrates how Senior Project can advance both personal passions and career aspirations. "I'm pursuing this certification because I've had moments in the outdoors where I've felt unprepared or unsafe—thankfully, none of those experiences ended in injury," she explains. “Through this course, I hope to gain a deep understanding of medical response in outdoor environments, improve my navigation skills, and increase my overall awareness of safety in the backcountry. This project also supports one of my long-term aspirations. I've dreamed of becoming a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) instructor or leading trips similar to those I experienced through the Manito-Wish Outpost Program. Now, I want to be that person for others. Earning my Wilderness First Responder Certification (WFR) certification is a vital first step in that journey." Through this intensive certification process, Jane is gaining industry-recognized medical skills, learning wilderness-specific protocols for patient assessment and evacuation, and developing the judgment required in emergency situations where access to resources are limited.

Jackie - Reproductive Rights in New Hampshire

Jackie's Academic Concentration on women's rights, particularly reproductive rights in New Hampshire, demonstrates how Senior Project can facilitate meaningful research on complex social issues and provide dedicated time to complete the Academic Concentration program and capstone. "The idea of women's rights has always been extremely prevalent in my life. Growing up with a mother who was heavily involved in politics, I found myself taking part in them since around age 5," Jackie explains in her project mission statement. Her current research builds on previous academic work: "In my junior year at my previous high school, I completed a 15-page research paper on the lack of comprehensive sexual education in America for young girls." Her Senior Project takes this interest further through primary research: "After completing a series of interviews, I was offered the position as an intern on [Joyce Craig's] campaign." This project integrates academic research at multiple libraries with real-world political engagement, allowing Jackie to deepen her understanding of both policy issues and the practical aspects of political advocacy, skills that will serve her well in future academic and civic endeavors.

Nina - FinTech Immersion

Nina's internship at GLMX, a financial technology company specializing in securities trading platforms, has immersed her in the intersection of finance and technology. "I enjoyed observing the entire company coming together, and I find it so valuable that all team members make the effort to gather and align their goals as a single entity," she reflects after attending a quarterly all-hands meeting. Her project includes leading roundtable discussions, shadowing client demonstrations, and gaining insights into various departments. "The product team sits between the client and the engineers, facilitating optimum functionality," she notes, identifying how different teams collaborate. Nina has observed patterns in successful professional skills: "I was interested to hear that both individuals highly value asking questions and a willingness to learn as key skills to succeed in their roles." She's even gained hands-on experience with design software: "I am making a site map for the website on Figma... I enjoyed the opportunity to create a model using shapes and colors." As her project culminates, she's creating resources for future interns while developing a deeper understanding of financial instruments and how technology platforms serve client needs in the financial sector.

Ethan, Thomas, and Liam - Environmental Conservation Project

Working alongside fellow seniors Thomas and Liam, Ethan has partnered with the Nantucket Conservation Foundation (NCF) for a collaborative environmental stewardship project. This Proctor Senior Project team was highlighted in this month’s NCF Newsletter: “Under the guidance of NCF Land Use Manager, Gerry Holmes, the students are taking on a variety of tasks, including trail upkeep, invasive species removal, and trash clean-up across conservation properties. These seemingly small jobs play a vital role in maintaining the health and accessibility of Nantucket’s protected lands. Their time with NCF not only supports local conservation goals but also provides valuable hands-on experience in land management and environmental stewardship.” 

Ethan's daily reflections capture both the rewards and unexpected challenges of conservation work: "Our task for the day was to set up fencing for endangered bird nesting areas on Coatue. The team spent about five hours building several enclosures. After a lunch break, we returned to finish fencing off the remaining areas. We got a little stuck as we were wrapping up our last spot and getting ready to leave. Jerry spun the tires and tore up the sand, getting us stuck. It took about two hours of tedious shoveling to free ourselves.” 

Milo - Entrepreneurial Venture

"Having played club lacrosse all my life, I know the hassle well. I've experienced the long walks from distant parking lots, carrying heavy chairs, coolers, and umbrellas, especially in the heat. Now imagine families flying in from out of state, or parents who forget their gear and have to stand in the sun from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. so their child can play three or four games. It's exhausting, uncomfortable, and totally avoidable." This pain point identified by Milo became the foundation for his entrepreneurial Senior Project—207 Equipment Rentals, a service providing on-site chair and equipment rentals at sports tournaments.

Milo's development of this venture exemplifies how Senior Project can nurture entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. "I want to pursue this business idea because, as far as I know, no one has ever tried anything quite like it," he explains. His entrepreneurial journey is providing real-world education in business (including LLC structure and insurance requirements), market research and validation, brand development and marketing strategy, financial planning, and operational logistics – a foundation in small business fundamentals.

A Culminating Experience

These are just a small sample of the remarkable projects our seniors are currently undertaking during their final weeks as Proctor students. Under the thoughtful guidance of Senior Project Coordinator Morgan Salathe and an extensive network of mentors – including faculty, staff, alumni, parents and parents of alumni, and other members of the extended Proctor network – they are engaged in independently-driven learning experiences that balance structure and autonomy. Senior projects incorporate multiple elements of Proctor's educational philosophy – learning by doing, guided by passion, supported by community, and directed toward growth. In witnessing our seniors navigate their projects - overcoming challenges, adjusting plans, and celebrating successes – we see the tangible results of one, two, three, or four years of Proctor's experiential model. The philosophy of self-directed, hands-on learning permeates the Proctor experience, culminating in these final weeks where students step fully into their capabilities as independent learners ready to make their mark on the world.

Learn More about Experiential Education at Proctor