By Sivi Satchithanandan ’15, Staff Writer

The seniors have finally checked out, but they are not done yet! Each senior has to complete a senior project, which is designed to give seniors a sense of responsibility and test them against the real world. Through identifying, planning, and completing projects, seniors get ready for college. Newark Academy gives seniors a lot of freedom in choosing their projects – they can range from academic, to educational apprenticeship, to creative projects, to outdoor activities. With a minimum requirement of 55 hours, it allows seniors to immerse themselves in their preferred endeavor. To ensure learning is maximized, a sponsor or a mentor is a mandatory requirement.

This year’s senior class is taking full advantage of this opportunity, working on over 75 different projects. These projects reflect the wide variety of interests in the graduating class. Internships of different kinds fill the list covering politics, law, public relations, media, as well as finance. Hiking in Utah is also a popular choice among seniors this year.

Ben Aiken is one of the many trekkers of 2012. When asked why he wanted to hike in Utah, Ben said, “I chose it because I like camping and thought it would be really fun to camp with my peers before we graduate.” He went on to say that he is “looking to have a fun bonding experience with my peers… Just having a good time really.” Many other seniors including John Ahluwalia, Allie Cohen, Elizabeth Coscia, Pranav Katti, and Conrad Wehner will be joining Ben on the hike.

While some seniors chose to take an outdoor approach, several have decided to use the project as a way to give back to their community. Nitika Kaul worked at the Red Cross for the past three years through blood drives and various other events. Through her senior project, she is going to “work on the other side of the Red Cross – the marketing side.” This is a classic example of a senior turning an established interest into a senior project.

Other seniors wanted to use their project to sample the field of study they plan to pursue in college. Jackie Viola stated, “I want to be a student of flight at the Somerset Airport because I’m doing airspace engineering [in college] and I think it’s really cool… I’m excited to learn how to fly and just learn more about flying in general.” Through her senior project, Jackie has found a fun, in depth way to start off her career in airspace engineering.

Another senior, Shelby Ozer, will be doing an internship at the New Yorker. She had already worked with her mentor last year fact-checking his work. This year she will be “scheduling for him and seeing how a writer goes through the publishing process.” This experience will help her decide if journalism is something she wants to pursue in the future.

This small sample demonstrates that this Newark Academy program indeed provides a myriad of opportunities to explore different areas. While their pursuits varied greatly, the level of enthusiasm and excitement displayed by the seniors interviewed was a common theme across all projects. Underclassmen can look forward to the same opportunity in due course.