The Senior Projects program, an original program offered at Rogers High School alone, is a unique opportunity for students to tackle real-world challenges in a professional environment. The valuable experiences gained through the program are highlighted as essential for student development.
Each group of seniors participating is paired with a local company or organization, where they’re handed a specific challenge to solve. These projects push students to think beyond the classroom and leave their mark before graduation.
“Senior Projects are a one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect seniors with local businesses and organizations in our community,” said Lisa Cassidy, advisory lead for the Senior Projects Program.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the program is seeing the students’ growth and creativity unfold throughout the process.
“The best part of the program is seeing students’ presentations to the businesses in the end,” Cassidy said.
Planning and organizing the Senior Projects event takes months of effort from the school’s Advisory Committee. The committee collaborates with local businesses to create an enriching experience for the students.
“Our committee plans this event to be meaningful for the students and the community,” Cassidy said.
The experience of collaborating with Summit Aviation, one of the partner companies participating this year, highlighted the significance of applying theoretical knowledge to practical problems.
“Working with a real business for my senior project was impactful because it involved solving actual problems, not just hypothetical scenarios. It taught me the importance of teamwork and communication in addressing challenges, and I feel we delivered solutions that can truly benefit the company,” said Brianna Vargas Herrera, 12.
The students worked with Summit Aviation for their senior project, addressing issues like missing job descriptions and limited staffing by interviewing employees and suggesting social media consolidation. This real-world experience emphasized teamwork and communication, and the students felt proud of the solutions that would help the company implement changes, Herrera said.
Looking ahead, the skills and lessons learned from the Senior Projects experience have the potential to influence students long after graduation. For Herrera , the project offered valuable insights that will shape their career approach.
“It was satisfying to see how our group, who had never all worked together before, come together and create a whole presentation,” said Mia Kelley, 12, “especially because some days we weren’t so confident we could pull it off.”
