Spotlight On . . . There are many rites of passage for an Aquinas senior and as of last year, Capstone Day became another. Over two days in May 2022, seniors presented their Capstone Legacy projects to the Aquinas community, which was the first showcase of its kind since the Capstone was implemented. Parents, faculty, staff, and the Aquinas student body were invited to the fairstyle event held in the Field House. As we gear up for our second annual Capstone Day later this month, the excitement is building as the Class of 2023 prepares to prove that they have grown through the Basilian motto of Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge, and exemplify the Profile of an Aquinas Graduate. “In 2012, when Aquinas announced it would be transitioning away from the New York State Regents, the school was presented with the unique opportunity to create an academic environment that challenges students to achieve at higher levels and become an even more rigorous college preparatory school,” said Aquinas principal Ted Mancini ’88. “With that came the need for Aquinas to create and develop assessments that would be a true representation of what our students know and are able to do as 21st century learners.” The Aquinas Capstone became one of those assessments. This multi-year project begins when a student enrolls at Aquinas and culminates during senior year. At each grade level, the Capstone requires a collection of evidence, application, outline, report, and presentation by students. The last stage of the Capstone, known as Et Hoc Est Legatum (My Legacy), seniors must prove that they have grown through the Basilian motto of Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge, and exemplify the Profile of an Aquinas Graduate. To demonstrate this growth and the legacy they will leave behind, each senior is required to not only complete a physical project, but also submit a final paper, and give an oral presentation during Capstone Day in May. Students must complete each of these components to be eligible to graduate from Aquinas. “The project is a true opportunity for our soon-to-be graduates to showcase their academic, emotional, social, and spiritual growth as an Aquinas student as they transition into life outside of AQ,” said Mancini. In addition to showcasing the skills it takes to complete the Capstone – critical thinking, problem solving, research, public speaking, planning, self-sufficiency – it allows students to explore the topics they are passionate about, which often align with their future career plans and in turn, make the whole experience that much more meaningful. The Class of 2022 covered a wide variety of topics, some of which included: • Influence of visual art on social issues • How concussions impact high school students • Special effects in film and how they have changed over time • How video games affect brain development in youth • How NASCAR has changed and improved driver safety in the sport and for the everyday driver • The biology and chemistry of decisions • Sustainable farming in urban communities • Assistive technology, specifically for blind and visually impaired individuals • How blue light affects physical and mental health • How dance improves athletic performance • How music affects emotion • The nature of sound waves and how they interact with the world This year’s Capstone Day presentations will prove to be another great showing of what our seniors have achieved here at Aquinas. Miranda Shook ’23 began designing clothing and jewelry during the pandemic and decided that her Capstone would revolve around business as she hopes to own her own shop one day. “For my junior research paper I researched business and equality in business. I thought it would be a really good idea for me moving 8 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2023 Mary Grace Schreiber ‘23 with the book she wrote and published for her Capstone Legacy project. The Aquinas Capstone
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