ISIP Exhibition Night a Big Success

from GSA Matters Spring 2022

Substitutes Help Learning Continue

ISIP Projects, Students Wow Crowds

On March 23, the campus buzzed with excitement as juniors and seniors spoke with visitors about their ISIP projects, showing off the results of their two-week explorations of career and personal interests with expert mentors.

GSA’s Independent Study and Internship Program has been central to our commitment to student self-exploration for more than 50 years. Below, we give you a glimpse into the wide range of projects our students undertook this year.

Coordinator Megan Flenniken spends a tremendous amount of time organizing ISIP starting in early fall, and nearly everyone at GSA helps, many as coaches, some as mentors, and others behind the scenes. We thank everyone, especially project mentors, for making ISIP such a success for our students.

Student Projects

Longrie Christiansen ’23 spent ISIP working on projects ranging from trail maintenance to donor analysis for the Blue Hill Heritage Trust.

**Longrie Christiansen ’23 with Chrissy Beardsley Allen ’98.**
Thanks for the photo, Chrissy Beardsley Allen '98.

Mentor Chrissy Beardsley Allen ’98, BHHT’s Development Director, said “Longrie was really such a delight to have here. He was reliable, worked hard, was extremely competent, and always asked questions if he did not understand something.”

**Longrie, left, helps George Fields with trail maintenance.**
Thanks for the photo, Chrissy Beardsley Allen '98.

Phillip Ciampa ’23 said he had a "genuinely great experience oil painting with mentor Nick Patterson, an artist who teaches at Brooksville Elementary School.

**Detail from the finished still life painted in oils by Phillip Ciampa '23 for his ISIP.**
Thank you for the photo, Phillip!

“I was glad to get an email from [Phillip] this fall,” Nick said, “and to hear about all the neat things he has been doing since I had him as a student in Brooksville. He had gotten the oil painting bug over summer and wanted to share that with someone. I was honored he would share that with me.”

Phillip’s goal for his ISIP was to make progress as a painter, which he said “relies on plain experience more than secondary knowledge.” He got plenty of experience. Though his plan was to paint one canvas, he completed more than we can show you here.

**Phillip's finished study of the painting "Archangel Michael Defeating Satan," by Italian master Guido Reni.**
Thank you for the photo, Phillip!

Several students worked in GSA’s new music production studio with the help of mentor Phelan Gallagher ’02.

**Drummer Isaiah Zemans ’24 takes instructions from producer Jenna Blodgett ’23.**

It’s not enough to play an instrument anymore, Phelan said. “Musicians need to wear three hats: musician, engineer, producer.” ISIP gave them a chance to take “a modern approach” to music, merging the skill sets.

In addition to playing music, students learned to position mics for “talent,” check levels, engineer music using the new 18-channel audio interface and new iMac with Logic Pro, and oversee the entire process as producers.

Malcolm X. Johnson ’22 worked with project mentor Kale Bryson for ISIP. Visit the George Stevens Academy YouTube channel to watch the beautiful video he created with his original composition and images.

Olivia Strong ’23 had two project mentors.

**Juli Perry helps Olivia sew a pair of unicorn and rainbow summer shorts.**
Thank you for the photo, Rita DiRito!

Teacher Juli Perry helped with sewing projects and Food Services Director Kristyn LaPlante taught her kitchen and cooking skills, like how to make her mother’s favorite breakfast.

“It was wonderful” working with Olivia on her ISIP, Kristyn said. “She was always right there and very focused on what she was learning.”