Since freshman year, students have been exposed to the idea of Senior Project, but have not given it much thought until now. As senior year finally arrived, the class of 2026 had to begin planning their long-awaited projects. The Senior Project at Clark Magnet gives students an opportunity to learn a new skill throughout the school year.
Students must create a “final product” based on the project that they present to their class and to a panel of judges during oral boards, the last aspect of the senior project. During oral boards, students must present a speech reviewing their project in front of 2-4 judges. This year, oral boards took place Friday, April 17th, and Saturday, April 18th. Students had ample time to prepare and practice their presentation in order to deliver their speeches with confidence.
Oral boards can be intimidating to many students at first, especially since this moment is one they’ve been contemplating for a long time. It can be a nerve-wracking experience for some students to present in front of teachers, staff, and volunteers. “When I first heard about oral boards my freshman year, the idea of presenting in front of judges was daunting to me. Thankfully, my judges turned out to be very kind and patient, and encouraged me throughout my presentation when I got nervous,” senior Zoe Smith said.
Mrs. Tatevosian helped Dr. Pruitt plan the senior project this year, before going on maternity leave. “I was very happy to see that the majority of students had a positive experience with the senior project and oral boards. For future students, we want to encourage more diverse project choices,” Dr. Pruitt said. Future students should be inspired and encouraged to think deeper about their projects, and come up with new fresh ideas to present.
Throughout their years at Clark, students have the time to imagine what they would like to do for their senior project, whether their purpose is to explore a new hobby or familiarize themselves with a specific career path. “Throughout my time at Clark, I started taking architecture classes for fun and realized I wanted to explore it as a career. The senior project allowed me to focus on my future career goals while learning in a professional setting,” senior Anahit Spartalian said.
Oral boards are a pivotal part of the Senior Project, as well as the academic journey of each student. Graduating seniors can now look back on their projects with pride and look forward to the skills they will bring to the career world.
