Allie Gray fires a pistol to begin her fundraising race. - Courtesy of Allie Gray

1. Allie Gray fires a pistol to begin her fundraising race. - Courtesy of Allie Gray Alzheimer’s disease is an incurable, degenerative and terminal form of dementia. For her graduation project on Alzheimer’s, senior Allie Gray conducted a 5K race to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. She called the race “A Race to Remember.” All money raised and donated to the Association helps it care for and support Alzheimer’s patients and orchestrate new research about the disease. “It was a good experience; I’m glad I did it,” said Gray. Gray chose her topic because she works at a nursing home and frequently witnesses Alzheimer’s disease in the residents. She also constructed her product on the basis of her four-year cross country career and her love of running. Gray said that her favorite part of her Graduation Project was the actual race and seeing all the people who attended. She was pleased with the turnout and she was able to raise $530 for the Association. Like most seniors, the graduation project originally had Gray feeling overwhelmed. She later found herself surprised by the way the project was divided up and found it easier to follow. “I wasn’t conquering the whole thing at once,” said Gray “It was in sections so it was easier than I thought it would be.” Gray believes that the Graduation Project was a fulfilling experience that had a positive influence on her. She got to interact frequently with adults, which she says was a positive thing. Gray also said that she thought the project, although rewarding, “didn’t feel like a necessary component for graduation.” Gray’s project was a success. She was able to raise enough money to make a significant contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association and she feels pleased with, and confident in, her project and her presentation.

2. Ministering in movement: Lakewood senior using graduation project as a way to reach others through an art he loves One Lakewood senior’s high school project combines his passion for ministry and the educational requirement needed for graduation. Willie Davis is that senior. Davis has a passion for miming and has dedicated himself to that ministry. To meet the requirement of his senior project, the Lakewood senior has chosen to conduct a MIME Conference. He will be joined by his ministry teammates Jacinta Washington, Victoria Valentin, Johnice Williams, Jarrett Bennett, Harold Cousar, Zakai Washington and flag girl Brandy Melvin who comprise the Insatiable Praise Ministries to conduct the conference.

3. Seniors help community with graduation projects What I plan to do is by way of a series of articles to make Cherokee Scout readers privy to a few of the projects under way by various seniors at Murphy High, and how they are improving our small but close region, and hopefully gain support to help their causes.

4. High’s graduation project sets lofty aspirations for young students Stephanie Bode, media center specialist at Dobson Elementary School, has always wanted a loft in the school’s library. She has done research online and found prototypes, but none were what she really wanted. Then, Superintendent Dr. Ashley Hinson recommended she try to incorporate the high schools into the project. The construction classes are usually busy, but Cathy White, instructional technology specialist at Surry Central High School, came up with the idea of making it part of a student’s senior graduation project. Bode jumped at the idea and was soon in contact with Ryan High, a junior at Surry Central.