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Curricular Highlight: Senior Capstone Project
For the past decade, Sanford seniors have engaged in a scholarly tradition in their senior English classes: the Capstone project. Part research, part literary journalism, part public presentation, the Capstone asks students to explore topics that matter to them and share their insights with the community.
The Capstone process unfolds across months of intentional, layered work designed by English department chair Brianna McCoy. Students begin by brainstorming and pitching ideas, refining research questions, reviewing academic sources, and building annotated bibliographies. Their goal is to craft a polished, research-driven article for a general audience–less academic paper, more National Geographic, The Atlantic, or Wired: writing led by a strong voice and grounded in credible research.
“I really appreciated having the opportunity to focus fully on one topic and explore it in depth through my Capstone,” shared Ada Henry ’26. That sustained focus carries beyond the page. Once the writing is complete, seniors shift into presentation mode.
Each student distills their research into a 10-minute talk delivered before peers, teachers, and families. For many, it is their first time presenting original research to an audience of this size, a milestone that builds confidence and helps students see themselves as scholars.