Senior Year: SERVE

Learning How to Lead by Serving Others

• Goal setting in the four routes to empowerment
• Senior Service Capstone Project
• Presentation at the Capstone Project Showcase Evening to friends, family and community members 
• Commencement interview and Application Process:  How have I acquired the Empowerment Characteristics?
• Reflection and sharing on becoming an Empowered Young Woman

  

 Click HERE to see a complete list of Class of 2012 Senior Capstone Projects.

Senior:  Justine Betz        
Project Title: Serving with the Stars at Starfire

Justine felt called to volunteer at Starfire, which is an organization that provides opportunities to people with mental disabilities.  Justine organized a card making workshop for a small group of Starfire members.  Following the card-making, Justine and her group personally passed out their hand-made cards to residents of Seasons Retirement Community.  “I chose this project because my aunt has Down Syndrome and is a member of Starfire.  This organization means so much to my aunt as it gives her something to look forward to every week, helps her to make friends, and helps her discover her talents that she can use to contribute to society.”

Justine explains, “This project was a huge challenge for me.  I’ve always been more of a follower than a leader, so it took a lot of effort for me to communicate my ideas and coordinate two different organizations that I had never worked with before.  I definitely had to step outside my comfort zone.”

 

Senior: Annelise Page
Project Title: Celebrity Waiters

Annelise Page created a Capstone Project with an organization for which she was already familiar – The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. One of the largest fundraising events for CFF is a dinner auction, and Annie took on the task of securing the celebrities for the event. She wrote a letter explaining her own experience with Cystic Fibrosis and sent it to local TV personalities, radio DJs, and current and former Cincinnati Reds and Bengals players, inviting each to attend the event and serve as a celebrity waiter. Annie followed up with phone calls and confirmation plans, managing to secure 37 celebrity waiters, including Nick and Drew Lachey!

The event was held at Great American Ball Park in November, where Annie greeted guests, sold balloons as part of the balloon auction, and assisted in the clean-up at the end of the evening. CFF event coordinator Alison Bethel commented that Annie “embraced the responsibilities with which she was charged, allowing us to have a successful campaign!” Congratulations, Annie.

 

Senior: Kathryn Hook     
Project Title: Jump-In to Make a Difference!

Kathryn used her passion for jump roping as a way to increase awareness and financially support the Kelly-Carol Foundation for Children with Cancer. Kathryn created, organized and led a jump rope workshop for grade school aged kids held in Nativity Grade School’s gym this summer. Kathryn became acquainted with the foundation when the younger sister of a member of Kathryn’s jump rope team was diagnosed with a form of leukemia in 2008. For her project, she created a t-shirt for her participants, carefully planned the activities, and trained and organized her fellow jump ropers. Kathryn served as the master of ceremonies, actively taught her students and led a workshop finale performance. Kathryn spent her time volunteering and raising awareness for the Kelly Carol Foundation, which helps families dealing with children who have cancer. Kathryn utilized a Capstone Grant for the t-shirts she designed for the event.

 Kathryn had a great experience and shared these comments: “I love the Kelly Carol Foundation! I think they’re awesome and I absolutely loved helping them! I also liked that it was easy for me to come up with the idea that I could use jump roping (for my project). I love the feeling of satisfaction that comes from helping people in need like families and children with pediatric cancer.”

 

Senior: Lizzie Kennedy
Project Title: Happy Trails to You

An ardent lover and rider of horses, Lizzie Kennedy directed her project towards the Special Rider’s Program at Winton Woods Riding Center, a 12 week summer session every Saturday morning, where she will assist children with disabilities in riding horses. To fundraise for the organizations, Lizzie made and sold decorated horse-shaped cookies at the Special Olympics Horseshow. She also raffled off baskets of her cookies. The money Lizzie made has been donated to the Special Riders Program at Winton Woods Riding Center and to the Special Olympics to help with needed equipment and for the special riders.

Lizzy learned important aspectes of leadership during her project. “My capstone project has challenged me to become more of a leader. If I wanted something to be done, I had to do it myself. I was the one who organized what should go in the baskets, and had to get people to help me work my event. This project also challenged me to manage my time wisely so I could get everything finished by the time of the horse show.”

 

Senior: Megan Grout
Project Title: Delicious Meals that Appeal

Megan shared her passion for cooking by creating a cookbook to be distributed to clients of her local chapter of St. Vincent de Paul.  The cookbook is filled with recipes for simple meals made with staple ingredients and canned food items found at the SVDP food pantry.  Megan explains, “My capstone project has challenged me because I have to find recipes that use simple ingredients which are on hand at the families’ homes.”   With the help of a grant received through MND’s Youth Philanthropy Council, Megan had the cookbook copied, bound and laminated. This capstone project will continue to benefit the community for many years to come.  “Knowing that I can provide families with more meal options than what they’re used to is an awesome feeling.”

  

Senior: Alyssa Armstrong
Project Title: We Are Rockin’ in the Rummage

Late last summer, Alyssa hosted a rummage sale in the gym at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Reading in order to raise funds to send members of the OLSH Youth Group to the National Catholic Youth Conference in November.  Alyssa’s rummage sale exceeded her goal and will provide a paid trip for the youth group members.   “I started crying the minute the total came up on the calculator screen.  I wore a proud smile that day and still do.  I truly believe this was my most proud moment.”

Alyssa explains, “My capstone project challenged me in many ways.  I was taught what it was like to be a leader, to have responsibility, and to take on a challenge with a smile and a strong boost of confidence.  I never knew what it was like to be a leader.  I have the experience to take on more challenges in my parish, community and school.”

 

Senior: Alex Lohmann
Project Title: Creating with Kids’ Café

Throughout July and August 2011, Alex spent time at the Our Daily Bread soup kitchen, with the children in the Kids’ Café program. Alex engaged the children with arts and crafts and was successful in achieving her goal of helping children in Over-the-Rhine have fun in a safe summer environment.  “My capstone project challenged me to step outside of my bubble and my comfort zone. Alex commented, "I love how I was able to bond with the kids and bring out their creativity and imaginations.”

 

Seniors:  Alexa Santamaria and Kristen Hersey
Project Title: Hope for the Hungry 

Alexa Santamaria came to her Capstone project with an awareness of hunger through her family’s involvement in Kids Against Hunger, an organization that provides food for needy families locally and around the world. Alexa and Kristen decided to raise funds and awareness for this organization. The pair began by passing out flyers to their neighborhoods and then collecting clothing items and books from these neighbors and friends. After unpacking, sorting, and cleaning the clothing, the items were taken to Plato’s Closet and The Snooty Fox with the proceeds from the sales going to Kids Against Hunger. Kristen and Alexa are also involved in food packing sessions as well as organizing a “loose change” collection as a way of raising additional funds.

When asked about the challenges of her project, Kristen explains, “My project has taken me out of my comfort zone and forced me to take charge and talk to people up front who I may not have known, something I would’ve never done before. I feel more comfortable now taking a leadership role and communicating with others who I may not know.”  Alex adds, "I have learned to seek and accept challenges by doing my own part to construct a service project and organize times, dates, and a fundraiser. If things go wrong, I have learned to face the problems and be resilient when dealing with the difficulties!

 

Senior: Jordyn Hunter
Project Title: Soles for Souls

Soles for Souls is the first Senior Capstone Project to Go Global - all the way to Africa! It all began when Jordyn Hunter was a seventh grader at St. Michael’s Elementary School. A guest speaker described how many children in Africa did not have shoes; to own even one pair was a luxury. That reality stayed with Jordyn, and five years later she launched her gently used gym shoe drive for the children of Africa.

Jordyn contacted a local college professor from Ghana. He helped her connect with the Diocese of Ghana, and they helped her identify specific schools and an orphanage there whose children could benefit from the shoes. Through word of mouth and the poster advertising her project, three local high schools joined Jordyn’s efforts. Shoe drives at Moeller, Lebanon, and McAuley high schools produced over five hundred pairs of gym shoes , which were recently shipped to the home of the Archbishop of Ghana.

But Jordyn’s Capstone Project did not stop there. Infant and toddler shoes were stuffed into suitcases and Jordyn and her mother set off for a twelve-day trip to Ghana to deliver the shoes themselves. Jordyn describes her trip as the hardest as well as the most rewarding experience of her life. Look for a complete article describing Jordyn’s trip coming soon to MND’s online newspaper, PawPrints.

 

Senior: Shannon O’Connor
Project Title: Birthday-in-a-Box!

As a volunteer with Hope Emergency, Shannon discovered that many families are financially unable to provide a party to celebrate their children’s birthdays.  To meet the needs of these families, Shannon created 36 decorated boxes and filled each with supplies for a complete birthday party:  cake pan, cake mix, icing, ribbon, candles, plates, tablecloth, napkins, cups, party hats and party favors. 

In the process of completing her capstone project, Shannon explains that she learned “how to budget my time, save money with coupons, and how to shop for the sale.”  Shannon is especially proud of her role in making every child’s birthday a memorable celebration, regardless of their family’s financial status. 

 

Seniors: Emma Beyer and Alex Crumb
Project Title: Money For the Babies

On a Saturday in July, the two MND seniors hosted an open house jewelry party with the help of MND parent and jewelry business owner, Alison Warning. Over sixty family members, friends, and teachers attended. During the eight hour event Alex and Emma served as masters of ceremonies, modeled the jewelry, helped guests with prices and purchases and promoted a raffle of a particular jewelry item.

On December 22, 2011, the pair presented their impressive financial gift of $1,800 to Good Samaritan Hospital to be used by the Family Advisory Council. Alex and Emma were featured in the TriHealth newsletter Triangles in which Suzanne Mullins, nurse manager of the NICU reports, “This donation means more than new books and toys for the siblings of our NICU babies. This donation is a contribution towards improving the quality of the stay for NICU families and siblings. We are so grateful for Emma and Alex for their passion, dedication and willingness to help.”

 

Seniors: Gina Frank and Paige Gehrlich
Project: Aspiring for Aspergers Awareness

Working with the community agency Families with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Gina and Paige are creating a video to raise awareness of Asperger’s Syndrome.  As students explore project ideas, they are encouraged to consider their passions, interests and causes.  Gina explains, “I chose this project because my cousin has Asperger’s (Syndrome) and this is a very personal cause to me.” 

Capstone projects are challenging our seniors in many ways.  Paige commented that this project challenged her to “go outside my comfort zone and learn to accept those who are different from me.” 

An exciting component of the video will include the recent interview with Temple Grandin that Gina and Paige were able to arrange when Ms. Grandin spoke at an Autism convention in Northern Kentucky in October. With a help of a grant through MND’s Youth Philanthropy Council, the video will be produced and distributed to local schools. 

 

Senior: Shelby Tarantino
Project: Makin’ for Maya

Shelby was ready to get started on her senior capstone project but everything changed when she heard about Maya, the eight year old daughter of a family friend who was battling AML, a rare form of cancer.  Motivated to do something to help Maya, Shelby started making and selling bracelets with the proceeds going to AML cancer research through Children’s Hospital.  Shelby admits, “I did not really choose this Capstone project, it chose me.  I was inspired by this little girl who was fighting for her life.  She made me want to change the world, or at least change her world.  So I did.  One bracelet at a time.”

Maya’s bracelets became Shelby’s new capstone project, one she felt passionate about accomplishing.  Within weeks, it seemed all of Shelby’s friends, classmates and teammates were wearing the bracelets.  They became a sign of hope for Maya’s health, created awareness for AML and served as a reminder to pray for Maya.  Shelby attached tags to the bracelets telling a little about Maya’s story and asking the wearer to pray for Maya every time they put it on in the morning and took it off in the evening.  “I like that the bracelets are constant reminders of not only Maya, but also all of the kids who are fighting cancer.”

Along the way, Maya’s journey taught Shelby, “that my everyday challenges are not so hard.  If an 8-year-old can beat cancer, a 17-year-old can get through a rough day every now and then.”

It is with great thanksgiving that Maya is now cancer free!

 

Senior: Kelly Cutter
Project Title: Splashin’ Around in Over the Rhine

MND’s Swim Team captain Kelly Cutter has a passion for her sport.  Kelly trains year-round with Blue Ash Y.M.C.A., practicing eight times a week with both 5:30 a.m. and after school practices, swimming over 25 miles per week. 

So it was no surprise that Kelly chose to complete her Capstone Project in the pool.  For a week in June, Kelly taught water safety to the children attending the Wesley Chapel Mission Center summer camp in Over the Rhine.  What Kelly liked most about her experience was the opportunity to use her talents to possibly save a life.  She worked with the 5 – 9 year olds, teaching them the skills necessary to respect the water and prevent water related accidents. 

Kelly explains, “I fell in love with their desire to learn and I realized that given the opportunity, these kids can accomplish much.  I went in to change these little kids’ lives, but they changed mine.”  

 

Senior: Abby Fenton
Project Title: Just Droppin’ Inn

Through the support of her parish, Abby Fenton supplied a carload of coats and winter clothing to Cincinnati’s largest homeless shelter.  Over a weekend in November, Abby explained the needs of the Drop Inn Center during each mass at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in West Chester.  Abby requested donations of laundry detergent, deodorant sweatpants, thermal underwear, socks and coats and her fellow parishioners did not let her down! 

When she delivered the twelve bags of donations to the Over-the-Rhine homeless shelter, Abby was surprised at the positive reaction she received.  When asked how she was challenged by her capstone project, Abby explained, “The hardest part was all the work it took to organize the event: contacting my parish, visiting and touring the Drop Inn Center, getting lost on the way there, and communicating with all the people involved.  I am proud of what I did.” 

 

Senior: Caitlin Shipp
Project Title: Patient Comforts

Even before embarking on her Capstone Project, Caitlin Shipp was a regular volunteer at Bethesda North Hospital.  It was an easy decision for her to create a project to benefit the hospital where she was already serving.  Caitlin spoke directly with Bethesda North’s director of volunteers to identify a particular need.  The hospital requested neck pillows and newborn caps. 

Caitlin got right to work meeting the comfort needs of the patients.  She cut and machine-sewed the fabric for the neck pillows and cut yarn for pom-poms to top each newborn cap.  Caitlin extended her project by recruiting a group of eighteen family members and friends to help stuff and hand sew 29 neck pillows and make 99 pink and blue newborn caps complete with pom-poms.

Bethesda North Volunteer Director Corless Roper recently sent her thanks to Caitlin saying, “You are truly a young lady of your word, and we at Bethesda North Hospital appreciate your dedication and giving spirit.  We are now able to meet the needs of our patients because of your wonderful group of family and friends!” 

 

Seniors: Annemarie Koch, Anna Kovacs, and Shelby Shepard
Project Title: Josh Cares Chain of Love Benefit Concert

Josh Cares is dedicated to making sure that no critically ill child goes through a hospitalization alone when a parent or family member cannot be with them.  The organization trains Child Life Fellows to offer care and companionship to seriously ill children at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital.

To financially support Josh Cares with their Capstone Project, Annemarie, Anna and Shelby organized the Josh Cares Chain of Love Benefit Concert, held in the lobby outside of the Kenwood Barnes & Noble on December 17.  They arranged for several participating tri-state high schools to perform, secured donations from LaRosa’s, and baked over 200 cupcakes.  During the event the three seniors sold pizza, drinks and their homemade cupcakes to the audience and passersby.  Paper chains were created out of links sold at the concert, each link representing one hour of companionship and care to a child at Children’s Hospital.   Annemarie, Anna and Shelby, talented singers themselves, chimed in with Christmas carols throughout the afternoon.

You may have caught the three MND seniors making an appearance on Local 12 News on the morning of the event.  They promoted the Josh Cares concert with an interview with Bob Herzog and the opportunity to sing live on the show!

 

Senior: Maddie McLaughlin
Project Title: Clothes for a Change

With a personal interest in fashion and clothing design, Maddie was excited to begin her Capstone Project with Dress for Success of Cincinnati, a program that provides work-appropriate clothing, purses and shoes to disadvantaged women trying to get into the workforce.   Over the summer she held two clothing drives for this organization.  Maddie feels strongly about the agency’s mission, “I liked the idea of trying to help women feel better about themselves in the clothes needed to secure employment in order to support their families.”

Maddie promoted her Cincinnati clothing drive on Facebook and Twitter, hung flyers around her Wyoming neighborhood and emailed all of her contacts.  A second clothing drive was held in Dayton, its success largely due to the generous donations from her grandmother’s friends who recently retired from their careers. To add to the clothing, Maddie used a personal connection with P&G, and was able to procure one hundred CoverGirl makeup bags, filled with cosmetics.

Dress for Success was thrilled to see Maddie’s carload of clothing; it was the largest donation from an individual they had ever received! We look forward to reading about her project as featured in an upcoming Dress for Success online newsletter.

 

Senior: Jazmin Hayes
Project Title: Brownie’s Adventure

During this past summer, Jazmin Hayes traveled to Guatemala as part of a mission trip with her youth group at Montgomery Community Church. Jazmin was struck by the poverty experienced by the children she served. In particular, she was concerned with the children’s lack of books. Jazmin committed to change that one reality through her Senior Capstone Project.

Jazmin wrote Brownie’s Adventure, a story about a little dog’s journey to overcome obstacles. The book was then translated by Mrs. Yorn’s Spanish IV class and illustrated by students in Mrs. Wurzelbacher’s Art Foundations class. Jazmin continued to share her experience of the children in Guatemala on a visit to the after-school program at Winton Hills Academy. Jazmin taught these grade school students about the issues of Guatemala, focusing on the day-to-day life of the Guatemalan children.

Through a grant provided by MND’s Youth Philanthropy Council, copies of the book were made, and Jazmin will hand deliver them to the Guatemalan children she met over the summer on her return mission trip this coming summer. Jazmin’s Capstone Project is impressive in its ability to educate not only the children she serves in Guatemala, but also the MND and Winton Hills Academy students who influenced the book’s creation.
 

 

Senior: Ellie Diemer
Project Title: Cakes for a Cause

Ellie’s connection to Our Daily Bread began as a ninth grader when she joined her mom on a service experience.  Located in Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood, Our Daily Bread is a ministry in which guests are offered warm meals in a caring and welcoming environment.  Since her freshman year, Ellie has been a regular volunteer there, working in the kitchen and on the serving line.  In the process of developing her Capstone Project, Ellie asked the agency if there was some need at the facility that she could fill, and a plan was created.

Multiple boxes of cake, bread, brownie and muffin mixes filled the storeroom shelves of Our Daily Bread; but without the necessary oil and eggs, the agency was unable to use the donations.  Throughout the summer and into her senior year, Ellie would take the dessert mixes home, and with her network of bakers (family and friends), prepared the baked goods.  Every time Ellie showed up to volunteer, she brought with her a variety of her freshly baked desserts that were distributed that day to the guests of Our Daily Bread.  What is most impressive is Ellie’s commitment to her project as she continues her baking even though her Capstone is complete.

 

Seniors:  Leticia Mejia & Lexie Recker
Project Title: Preschool Spanish Basics at the YMCA

¡Hola amigos!  Preschool students at the Blue Ash YMCA were treated to Spanish lessons this past fall and winter by MND seniors Leticia Mejia and Lexie Recker.  Their Senior Capstone Project included planning curriculum, organizing necessary materials, and actively engaging the three and four year old preschool students in an introduction to the Spanish language every Tuesday afternoon.  Leticia and Lexie introduced the children to basic greetings, season-related vocabulary, the days of the week, the alphabet and colors.  Each class included a sing-along of a Spanish song.  One favorite lesson involved learning the Spanish names for various farm animals, complete with a set of stuffed animals that Lexie and Leticia brought from home.  Our MND seniors realized that they were becoming successful teachers when a mother, who was picking up her child from school, told them that her daughter was speaking Spanish at home and teaching the family the new vocabulary she learned in class each day.

 

 

MND Capstone in the News

Cincinnati.Com - March 7, 2012
Fox19 - March 7, 2012
Sacred Heart Radio