Tenth Anniversary Celebration THE
George A. Roeper
FESTIVAL OF
SENIOR PROJECTS
presented by
The Class of 2017
friday, may 19 wednesday & thursday, may 24 & 25 7:00pm r. dean acheson theater birmingham campus
Welcome! Welcome to the Tenth Annual George A. Roeper Festival of Senior Projects. The George A. Roeper Senior Project is designed to allow students to follow their personal passions and to extend their learning beyond the classroom. Taking on a Senior Project is a choice, not a requirement. Students design the questions they want to explore as well as the process they will use to discover their current understanding. Students are capable of taking on these projects because of the skills they have developed over time at The Roeper School. The students you meet and hear from over the course of these three evenings have managed at least one semester of independent, self-directed learning. They have been supported by mentors within our walls as well as professionals in their respective areas of interest outside the Roeper community. It would be easy to focus solely on the results these students have produced for this evening; however, the processes they employed and relationships they developed are likely what will impact them most in the years to come. Thank you for joining us on this very special evening. I am so proud of these kids. Roeper students are amazing people. Cordially,
Lisa Baker Upper School Director
THE ROEPER SCHOOL educating and inspiring gifted students to think as individuals and to engage as a community with compassion for each other and this world
Schedule of Events R. Dean Acheson Theater Birmingham Campus
FRIDAY, MAY 19 Rishabh Iyer Lukas Sznewajs Alexis Johnson Nadav Pais-Greenapple WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 Leora Bernard Emma Kretchmer Ben Fisher Nathaniel Lee Jonathon Borja THURSDAY, MAY 25 Phoenix Bieneman Andrew Dietz Brandon Davis Ellie Moskowitz Reyne Lesnau
Friday, May 19 Rishabh Iyer FRONTIERS IN MODERN MEDICINE By working in a lab and researching independently, I wanted to gain a greater understanding of how modern medical research works. In particular, the lab I worked in was focused on applying new methods in genetics and molecular biology to treat cancer. Among other things, I learned to properly maintain cell cultures, modify their genetic function, and analyze the results!
Advisor: Laura Panek
Special Thanks: To my parents Raghu Iyer and Geetha Raghu, my brother Nikhil Iyer, and Laura Panek for all of their support and guidance along the way!
Lukas Sznewajs GOTTA GO FAST I’ve always had an interest in driving, dating back to golf carts and boats and an ATV or two up North every summer since I was little. Doing a senior project was the perfect opportunity to take that interest a step further — to build my own go kart. Aside from the manual labor, time was spent sourcing parts from vendors, driving, and being hopelessly lost while wandering through the aisles of Home Depot. Advisors: Clint Spevak; Heath Norton, Vice President of Tecnoma Industries and Callies Performance Products; Howie Grove, Production Manager at Callies.
Special Thanks: Heath and Howie for giving their time and guiding me through this process; they were incredible mentors. Thank you to Clink Spevak for being my faculty sponsor.
Also to the guys at Tecnoma: Steve Arnold (Machine Repair), Matt Lipski (Plant Manager), Seth Showalter (Group Leader), Billy Burel, Dwayne Lamb, and Andy Boose (Machinists) for assistance with welding, logistics, and grunt work. Also, I’d like to thank them for being friendly and eager to help the random high school kid who showed up unannounced, made a ton of noise and a big mess, and who was fairly incompetent most of the time. Lastly, I could not have done this without the support of my parents. Mom and Dad, thank you. I love you guys.
Alexis Johnson 1+1=5 I came here to learn how to work in a classroom during math. I worked with the intervention kids during math. I also planned centers (Math Workshops). Then, later in the year, I started teaching some random lessons here and there that Lesley helped me plan.
Advisor: Paula Romano
Special Thanks: To Lesley Righetti, for being my teacher and letting me go to a school that’s not Roeper, and to Jefferson International Academy for letting me work there. Thank you to the people (math teachers!) that got me to find the love in math teaching, which helped me get to this project today.
Nadav Pais-Greenapple FOR THE WORLD TO COME: A TALE OF LOVE, HOPE, AND DIASPORA Storytelling is one of the most important aspects of our culture. Whether they come in the form of folktales, books, movies, or television shows, stories shape who we are and inspire us to tell stories of our own. To honor both my Jewish heritage and my love of science fiction, For the World to Come is a story of my own creation — a science fiction tale of the human diaspora that the Jewish people and others have faced over the centuries, from the Spanish Inquisition to the Holocaust. I’ve spent the past nine months writing, re-writing, organizing, filming, editing, and re-editing the film you are about to see, with the help of an amazing group of dedicated people. I am proud to present For the World to Come.
Advisor: Kelly McDowell
Staff: Assistant Directors, Ayla Schwartz and Julia Morgan; Sound Technician, Shelby Raminick; Additional Transportation, Beth Greenapple
Cast: Phoenix Bieneman, Jonathon Borja, Elizabeth Stayton, Ron Zill, and Andy Brock
Special Thanks:
An infinite thanks to my actors and crew, who journeyed out into the wilderness with me to endure freezing (and below freezing) temperatures, TSA background checks, uncomfortable close-ups, finicky equipment, cold beans, and lots of walking. I could not have picked a better team for this project. I can’t possibly express the gratitude I have for the community of parents and family members who helped on this film. Without your willingness to drive to ridiculous places at ridiculous times, feed a bunch of hungry and cold teenagers, and in one particular case, free a certain 2004 Honda Civic from a snowdrift, For the World to Come would not exist. Thank you to my advisor Kelly McDowell, who was invaluable in contributing her experience, ideas, and help to this project.
Wednesday, May 24 Leora Bernard MARATHON READERS There are many works out there that provide help and insight for parents and teachers of students with learning challenges. However, there are not many guides designed for the students to use on their own. For my senior project I have begun to write a book based on experience and research to help guide young students with learning challenges. The book covers a variety of subjects ranging from communication, learning, technics, understanding oneself, confidence, and motivation. The guide is accompanied with an audio version, so challenged students do not have to read the guide in order to gain help from it. I also worked closely with the Roeper Resource Room, providing information for teachers as well as tutoring students.
Advisor: Susannah Nichols
Special Thanks:
To my family for always supporting me, Susannah Nichols for guiding me; Jodi and Shelley in the Resource Room for trusting me; and John Abela, Ms. Spencer, and Mrs. Hewer for providing me with my own voice, tools, and inspiration for this project.
Emma Kretchmer
FORENSICS: THE QUEST FOR TRUTH Forensics is defined as “the quest for truth.” The term is commonly associated with police and crime television dramas, like CSI: Miami. As a class we sought communication, performance, and persuasion to give an audience a greater understanding of our world and our place within it. Through the power of performance, children in Stage IV join the world of forensics. These six children learned to find their voices, make original characters, and spread messages that they believe in.
Advisor: Dan Jacobs/Elise Lind
Special Thanks:
I’d like to thank Dan Jacobs. You’ve helped me grow from a very awkward sixth grader into a slightly less awkward adult. I’m not quite sure what the future will hold for me, but I hope you continue to be a part of my life, influencing me every day. Thank you, Elise Lind, for being a phenomenal helper and jumping into my senior project with unwavering energy. Your generosity and kindness are immeasurable. Thank you for making my senior year my best one yet. I’d like to thank my personal forensics coaches: Dan Jacobs, Rachel Warnecke, Tom Roccotagliata, and Sharayah Johnson for pushing me to continue my speech career and helping me improve my own performance every day. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without your unyielding love and support. You are some of the most influential people in my life, and I can’t thank you enough for everything you do for me. I’d like to thank my mother Jody Lipton for coming to nearly every single tournament I have ever been to. Waking up as early as 4:30am may not be fun, but being able to spend an entire day (or more) doing what I love with someone I love is the best part. I’d also like to thank my father Geoff Kretchmer for teaching me the importance of patience, kindness, and that there are many pathways to success. I couldn’t have followed through with my project if it weren’t for the lessons you teach me every day. Lastly, I’d like to thank my big brother Noah Kretchmer for being such a positive reinforcement in my life and being a great best friend.
Ben Fisher TEDxTHEROEPERSCHOOL For my Senior Project, I organized a TEDx speaker series for Roeper. The TEDx Program is designed to help communities, organizations, and individuals spark conversation and connection through local TED-like experiences. Live speakers are invited to TEDx events to share their “ideas worth spreading.”
Advisor: David Feldman
Production Staff: Katarina Moore, curator; Dan Jacobs, curator; Andrew Brock, manager; Maddy Harner, manager; Ttari Hellmer, production coordinator; and Karen Johnson, facilitator.
Speakers: Richard R. Murray ’74, Zachary Wood ’14*, Patrick O’Connor ’78, Lianna Trimble ’07*, and Aaron Egan ’05
Special Thanks:
I want to thank the entire team: David Feldman, Maddy Harner, Kat Moore, Karen Johnson, Andrew Brock, Dan Jacobs, and Ttari Hellmer. These are the people who make Roeper what it is, and I sincerely believe that the whole school would be a whole lot less Roeper without them. I also want to thank Nick Lyon, Evan Buikema, Hale Williams, Kari Papadopoulos, Bonnie Schemm, Bridghette Parker, and Laura Moore for their help at various stages in the organizing process.
* indicates the actual graduation year of alumni who graduated from other secondary schools
Nathaniel Lee M.A.R.S. MISSION: MAKING AWESOME ROBOTS IN SCHOOLS The goal of this project is to introduce middle school students to robotics to prepare them for a LEGO robotics class that will be offered in the fall. We received the Community Connections Grant to help make awesome robots at a school in my community called Westside Christian Academy. We planned out a course to teach several introductory concepts in robotics to the students, and it will hopefully give them a good foundation in robotics and potentially inspire them to pursue a career in STEM.
Advisor: Clint Spevak
Mentors: Phyllis Lee, Mom/Grant Writer; Henry Wells, Principal of WCA; and David Holcomb, WCA Science Teacher
Special Thanks:
To Melanie for taking time out of her schedule to help make the M.A.R.S. Mission a success! Thank you to my mother for helping to make the M.A.R.S. Mission a reality with the Community Connections Grant. Thank you to my grandmother Mary Lee, for driving Melanie and me from school to school every Tuesday and Thursday for class. Special thanks to Mr. Holcomb for letting us use his room to work in. Thanks to Clint Spevak for helping me to develop the lesson plan. A big thank you to Principal Wells for allowing me to share my knowledge about robotics with the eager, intelligent, awesome students at Westside Christian Academy. And the biggest thank you to my students — Todd, Ruby, Evan, Marlow, A.J., Jeffrey, Edwin and Aaron — for being engaged and super excited to make some awesome robots!
Jonathon Borja CÓMO ESCRIBIR UNA CANCIÓN Throughout high school, I would look up the chords to songs I liked so I could play them on the piano. As I grew more interested in my language classes, I added Spanish songs to my repertoire. But I was also growing tired of merely putting my spin on other people’s songs; I wanted to create something of my own. My inexperience and perfectionism made the prospect daunting, but pursuing a senior project was the perfect opportunity to find a mentor who could help me grasp the creative process. So I decided to write a song in Spanish and perform it at the Senior Project Nights. What I expected to be a straightforward composition process presented unexpected challenges and ultimately rounded out my musical experience at Roeper. I learned musical notation, explored lyrical generation, and revived my love for the piano. Better yet, Abha’s guidance and my own effort have given me a solid foundation for continuing to create music long after the final note of Pomp and Circumstance has faded from my ears.
Advisor: Abha Dearing
Special Thanks: I’d like to extend a special thank you to Abha Dearing, whose incredible experience and relentless optimism were instrumental to this project’s success, and to Ttari Hellmer, whose tech work has supported my performance on this night and countless others over the past seven years.
Thursday, May 25 Phoenix Bieneman ROMEO AND JULIET: A COMEDY Romeo and Juliet is often considered either one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies or the dumbest love story in the world. However, there is a third interpretation that is often overlooked: that of a dark comedy or a satire. This project is a production of Romeo and Juliet that takes that interpretation into account. Juliet’s death is overwrought; there’s a case of mistaken identity over corpses; and Tybalt carries around a block to make himself look taller. Advisor: Alex Pedica
Production Staff: Kory Hamblin, Stage Manager; Ttari Hellmer, Technical Director; William Bieneman, Props Designer; Ann Bieneman, Costume Designer; Ian Carroll, Sound Designer; Charlie Sutton, Lighting Designer Cast: Clyde Granzeier, Lucie Must, Drew Dagenais, Elizabeth Stayton, Jeremy Goldman, Jaanaki Radhakrishnan, Charlotte Silverstein, Leah Trunsky, Matteo Papadopoulos, Phoenix Bieneman, Alex Calderwood, Lillian Irish, Jonathon Borja Special Thanks: I’m grateful to everyone who’s helped me to create this project, including the awesome cast and crew, and Ttari and Alex for giving me the guidance I need, not only for Romeo and Juliet, but for all of my theater endeavors at Roeper. Thank you!
Andrew Dietz THE NAME A surreal short film about the struggle for selfhood, with oneself and with others.
Advisors: Kelly McDowell and Michelle Stamler
Cast & Production Staff: Dayna Nolan, Leora Bernard, Nick Lyon, Ttari Hellmer, Peyton Kinchen-Reed, Kory Hamblin, Kyler Cousins, and Emma Sznewajs Special Thanks:
To my advisors, to the Roeper Senior Project fund, to my parents, to the RTC, and the Roeper community in general for their generous support, advice, contribution, and encouragement.
Brandon Davis BECOMING YOURSELF AGAIN: EATING DISORDERS I have created a video where I explain my own struggle with an eating disorder, and I explain the importance of people understanding how to recognize and help those with an eating disorder.
Advisor: Lisa Baker
Special Thanks:
I want to acknowledge those who have helped me with this project. Thanks to my parents Howard and Michelle Davis, my sister Lindsey Davis, my friend, mentor, and teacher Lisa Baker, as well as Reanne Young, I have been able to successfully tell my story and begin to help those who have been unable to tell theirs.
Ellie Moskowitz PONTIAC SOUP Pontiac SOUP is a micro-granting dinner where guests come and pay a minimum of $5 a person to receive dinner and hear from four organizations about what they are doing to better the community. Guests then vote on the organization that they want to receive the money raised. This event is all about raising awareness for organizations, and also about forming connections within the community.
Advisor: Lisa Baker
Mentor: Scott Stewart, Co-Founder of Pontiac SOUP
Special Thanks: To my family, Lisa Baker for being my advisor, and everyone in the Roeper community who attended Pontiac SOUP
Reyne Lesnau BIONIS AND MECHONIS I have always loved cosplay — bringing a fictional character to life by creating and wearing elaborate handmade costumes. I consider it to be the ultimate form of dedication to the culture and media that I love, and it’s a load of fun, too. For my Senior Project I really wanted to take this to the next level by making something big, so big I went enormous, actually. The costumes that I will be presenting to you are those of the Bionis and the Mechonis. These twin titans are the setting of the 2010 role-playing game Xenoblade Chronicles; their very bodies are home to the various locations where the events of the game unfold. I hope you enjoy seeing these characters come to life as much as I have enjoyed making them!
Advisors: Karen Johnson and Roman Lesnau
Special Thanks:
A huge thank you to Buddy VanLoon and Dan Rose from Stagecrafters for helping me with the initial planning phases. They helped me identify materials to use that would work for costumes of such a large scale, and without them I would not be here presenting to you. To my wonderful dad Roman, who helped me every step of the way with assembling these monstrosities. To Nick Lyon and Phoenix Bieneman, who I volunteered to be my models and who are being very good sports about it. To Nadav Pais-Greenapple and Kenji Otani, who helped me with all sorts of fun stuff including painting, transport, and testing. And to Karen Johnson for being the best advisor I could have asked for.
Please join us for COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES for
The Class of 2017 Sunday, June 4 at Noon Community Center
bloomfield hills campus
THE ROEPER SCHOOL
Middle/Upper School 1051 OAKLAND AVENUE BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN 248.203.7405 www.roeper.org
david h. feldman, head of school lisa baker, upper school director