School of Environmental Studies

cap·stone   n.

1.  The top stone of a structure or wall.

2.  The crowning achievement or final stroke; the culmination or acme.

Synonyms:  acme, apex, apogee, ascendancy, capsheaf, climacteric, crest, crowning point, extremity, head, height, high spot, highlight, intensification, limit, maximum, meridian, pay-off, peak, pinnacle, pitch, summit, tiptop, top, turning point, utmost, zenith

Concept:   importance (great)

Your work at SES over the past two years has formed the foundation for the Senior Capstone.  The three complementary pieces of the Capstone offer a rich opportunity for you to:

• demonstrate your mastery of written, oral, analytical and research skills
• reflect upon your work over the past two years
• synthesize your understanding of the relationship of humans & their environments
• honor the transition of your passage from high school

                                   I.      In the Environmental Ethic Statement, you will reflect upon your development as a part of a "community of leaders learning to enhance the relationships between people and their environments," the vision of SES.  You will set the stage for your future by offering an answer to the senior question, “How, then, shall I live?”

                                     II.     In the Senior Project you will take on the role of "an active citizen leader who is environmentally informed, a self-perpetuating learner, connected to the local and global community," the mission of SES, by engaging in environmental service learning in the community.

                                       III.     In the Senior Forum, you will share your ethic and your project with a public audience, as well as make a formal presentation on your recommendations for the encouragement of sustainability in the local community.   In your speech, you should "model thoughtful, informed decision-making" and "encourage sustainable environmental actions," in the application of the SES mission.