A look into HRA’s Senior Project Tradition
Pursuing independent study has been a tradition for Hampton Roads Academy students. While Senior Projects are a requirement for graduation, they also present an opportunity for students to learn about a subject that sparks their curiosity, passion or interest. This year’s Senior Projects were wide-ranging. We will take a closer look a number of this year’s senior projects.
“EKG Testing: Screen Your Teens” by Hunter Hickman & Michael Adelson
About their project: Michael and I worked with a foundation called the Ryan Lopynski Big Heart Foundation to organize a day for HRA Upper School students, as well as other students in the Hampton Roads community to come to HRA and receive an EKG test (screening for heart abnormalities). We collaborated with Mrs. Annette, HRA’s athletic trainer, as well as HRA’s Athletic Director Mr. Gillespie and Director of Finance and Operations Mr. DeChirico to host the event on November 19. We had several volunteer firefighters, EMS and registered nurses to administer the tests to students. In addition, we had two cardiologists from the Sentara Cardiology Group who came and read and interpreted the results of each test on-site. Overall, we tested 85 teenagers and discovered four minor abnormalities. Since the event, we have been working to make sure that this event becomes a lasting tradition that will continue and grow in the future.
What was learned during the Senior Project experience: One of the biggest skills that we learned was how to communicate and work with people in the real world. We had to coordinate with the Lopynski’s (who ran the Lopynski foundation), the director for Sentara Cardiology and the two doctors, all of our volunteers (students and also firefighters, EMS, and nurses), and also with HRA (Mr. Gillespie and Mr. DeChirico) to plan and host our event smoothly. This took a lot of planning and several trials to get everything to align.
Senior Project advice you would give to younger students: Pick something that you really care about and that inspires you. We were both very interested in the topic and path that we chose, so the work wasn't quite as bad. One of the best things about the senior project is that you get to choose what to do, so don't end up dragging your feet with a project that doesn't interest you. I would also recommend doing as much work over the summer as possible because it makes an already very hectic senior year a little less stressful.
About their project: Michael and I worked with a foundation called the Ryan Lopynski Big Heart Foundation to organize a day for HRA Upper School students, as well as other students in the Hampton Roads community to come to HRA and receive an EKG test (screening for heart abnormalities). We collaborated with Mrs. Annette, HRA’s athletic trainer, as well as HRA’s Athletic Director Mr. Gillespie and Director of Finance and Operations Mr. DeChirico to host the event on November 19. We had several volunteer firefighters, EMS and registered nurses to administer the tests to students. In addition, we had two cardiologists from the Sentara Cardiology Group who came and read and interpreted the results of each test on-site. Overall, we tested 85 teenagers and discovered four minor abnormalities. Since the event, we have been working to make sure that this event becomes a lasting tradition that will continue and grow in the future.
What was learned during the Senior Project experience: One of the biggest skills that we learned was how to communicate and work with people in the real world. We had to coordinate with the Lopynski’s (who ran the Lopynski foundation), the director for Sentara Cardiology and the two doctors, all of our volunteers (students and also firefighters, EMS, and nurses), and also with HRA (Mr. Gillespie and Mr. DeChirico) to plan and host our event smoothly. This took a lot of planning and several trials to get everything to align.
Senior Project advice you would give to younger students: Pick something that you really care about and that inspires you. We were both very interested in the topic and path that we chose, so the work wasn't quite as bad. One of the best things about the senior project is that you get to choose what to do, so don't end up dragging your feet with a project that doesn't interest you. I would also recommend doing as much work over the summer as possible because it makes an already very hectic senior year a little less stressful.
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