Senior Project students officially announce their topics, mentors and goals

The nationally recognized Senior Project program at Warwick Valley High School held its annual topic reveal ceremony just before winter break, on December 16, during which more than a dozen enthusiastic and driven students shared their topics and goals!

Fifteen members of the Class of 2026 made their formal announcements for the 2025-2026 Senior Project program during the ceremony, which was attended by school administration and faculty, as well as family members of the program students. Now in its twentieth year, the WVHS version of Senior Project is a unique independent study opportunity that encourages enrollees to... explore their passions and discover themselves!

The program combines project-based learning, along with real-world work and professional networking, to provide an overall experience that is invaluable for students graduating into today's increasingly connected and fast-paced, global community. Senior Project students must complete four key components during their year-long course of study.

These are affectionately know by Senior Project students as "The Four Ps."

• Project
  What each student chooses to study, and goals they set to accomplish with their mentor.
   
• Paper
  A collegiate-level paper, seven to 10 pages in length, on their topic, which presents the students’ knowledge of their topic, including findings and outcomes.
   
• Portfolio
  This piece chronicles each student’s process, including documentation, correspondence, photos, and anything else related to the project.
   
• Presentation
  Students give an oral presentation on their topic and outcomes to a panel of judges drawn from the District and the community.

To understand the full scope of the Senior Project program, please use this page to explore its many facets and requirements. 

Following a performance of The National Anthem by the WVHS Meistersingers, Senior Project co-advisor Jeanine Fogler welcomed everyone to the ceremony. 

"Twenty years ago, a dedicated group of educators worked diligently to establish this nationally accredited Senior Project program here at Warwick Valley High School," said program advisor Jeanine Fogler. "We traveled to study other successful models, knowing we would innovate and create something superior. A collaborative team of teachers and administrators set out to design a program that would sustain student engagement throughout the entire senior year, fulfill the rigorous New York State Regents requirements, and challenge students to push beyond their comfort zone and discover their passion."

Ms. Fogler continued, recognizing the significant and ambitious undertaking these students are embarking upon.  

"This is a comprehensive program that requires students to select a compelling topic that serves as their project's foundation. Then, they must conduct extensive required research, secure a mentor with professional expertise in their field, compose a collegiate level research paper, and curate a professional portfolio," she explained. "We love that the program helps students develop practical tools necessary for a successful transition into their collegiate journey or directly into the workplace. It deliberately emphasizes the vital skills of public speaking, professional networking, and establishing connections within their prospective fields." 

The program has achieved a place of prominence and popularity in the WVHS course catalog, of which Ms. Fogler and program co-advisor Danielle Bugasch are immensely proud. The feeling is shared by high school administration, and principal Georgianna Diopoulos was at the ceremony to address the 2025-2026 cohort.

"This Senior Project announcement ceremony is one of my favorite events of the year," said Ms. Diopoulos in her welcome. "It is an exciting moment for these seniors, who are taking an idea and turning it into action, often by accepting a challenge that can feel a little -- maybe even more than a little -- overwhelming. But that's exactly what makes it such a powerful experience!"

Ms. Diopoulos talked about how the program helps develop invlauble skills, especially those connected to the district's Portrait of a Graduate. Senior Project demands critical thinking, problem solving, time management, the abilities to communicate and collaborate.

"These seniors take special ownership of their learning," Principal Diopoulos added. "They're asked to be curious, resilient, and reflective, all qualities we want every Warwick Valley graduate to leave here having developed. This marks the beginning of a very transformative chapter for these seniors, and I want to say how proud we all are of you for taking on this challenge with courage and commitment. We can't wait to see where your ideas lead and how much you grow through the process!" 

This year's ceremony included a keynote address from Jennifer DiCostanzo, an award-winning Associate Broker with RE/MAX Town & Country and the owner of JENDICO Real Estate Inc. Ms. DiCostanza is the top female solo real estate agent in Orange County, and among Warwick's top-producing real estate agents overall. Ms. DiCostanza believes that leadership is built from everyday choices and that students hold the power to shape their own path. Having had two of her own children complete the Senior Project program, she was excited to share her journey and insights, bringing real-world experience and inspiration to encourage the next generation of students.

She opened by sharing her admiration for the students choosing a path that's decidedly not an easy one to graduation.

"You chose growth, challenge, and purpose during your last year of high school, when many seniors are just counting down the calendar days to graduation. That decision, alone, has shaped your future in ways you can't yet imagine," Ms. DiCostanza said, recalling the time she served as a mentor in the program "The high school student I worked with... taught me what Senior Project is about -- perseverance, enduring challenges, learning from setbacks, maintaining focus over the long term. It requires emotional diligence and resilience, discipline and dedication. That is Senior Project, and that is life."

After being a mentor in the program, Ms. DiCostanza encouraged her daughter and son -- Olivia and Ryan -- to enroll in Senior Project. In fact, she recalled giving them a choice to participate in either Senior project or Drama Club. Both enrolled in and completed Senior Project. Today, Olivia runs events at Sony Hall in New York City, while Ryan is a teacher here in Warwick Valley. Ms. DiCostanza gives Senior Project a lot of credit for helping them both develop skills that helped get them where they are now, and applauded this year's students for taking the same leap, encouraging them to take full advantage of all the program has to offer.  

Following the keynote address, Ms. Bugasch presented the Senior Project cohort for 2025-2026, who each shared their topics, mentors and goals. 

• Jazmyne Bonadies will be planning and leading camp events and activities at Camp Warwick over the span of four weeks. Jazmyne's mentor will be Autumn Koen, a special education teacher who also works at Camp Warwick. Jazmyne's research paper will address a lack of accessibility and representation to people with mental and physical disabilities in society.
   
• Alannah Dempsey will be studying the field of psychology and planning a water-color fundraising event for schizophrenia research. Alannah's mentor, Jody Vesuvio, is a family/social worker, who specializes in trauma and grief. Alannah's research paper will address the effects of COVID on the development of today’s youth.
   
• Koji Hanauer's project is to become proficient at playing the drum set. His mentor, Karl Latham, is a professional drummer and instructor endorsed by Yamaha, Paiste, Promark and Evans. Koji's research paper will address how studying music at a young age is beneficial to overall learning.
   
• Victoria Martinez's project will be learning to forage and identify wild mushrooms. Victoria is planning to work with multiple mentors, including Svetlana McCoy-Rusanova, Ph.D, self-employed owner of “Inspired by Nature,” Patrick Montuori, a self-employed carpenter and avid mushroom forager, and Lyla Meader, current President of New Jersey Mycological Association. Victoria's research paper will address how fungi play a vital but often overlooked role in maintaining forest ecosystems.
   
• Madelyn Montgomery's project is to stage and execute a yoga fundraiser to raise money for people struggling with addiction. Madelyn will be working with licensed yoga instructor Laura Archambault. Madelyn's research paper will address yoga and relaxation helping individuals who struggle with mental health and addiction.
   
• Daniel Page is going to publish a book of original poetry, working with his mentor, published author Michael DeLeonDaniel's research paper will address how the mental health industry in the United States is overlooked and underfunded, which leads to high suicide rates in adolescents.
   
• Riley Seijas is going to produce a series of cooking videos, including planning, filming, and editing the segments. Riley will be working with Andrina Wolff, co-founder and film teacher at Forge 28. Her research paper will address the increase of "health food deserts" in lower income areas, which has led to an increase in obesity.
   
• Nino Barabadze is writing a historical fiction novel about the Romanov dynasty. Nino is working with Manana Chanturishvili, who has been an English teacher for more than 20 years. Nino's research paper will address the negative consequences of historical censorship in media and literature.
   
• Caralina Cassara's project is building and designing a model of a house. Caralina will be guided by mentor Jennifer Foleno, an interior designer for over 10 years. Caralina's research paper wiil address how the attachment of items in a home can cause the development of hoarding.
   
• Christopher DeFranco is learning how to read music and play piano. His mentor is longtime local performer and teacher Mike Purcell. Christopher's research paper will argue that music can drive political and social change.
   
• Maya Fong's project is to learn conversational Cantonese, and she is working closely with native speaker Jo Chin as her mentor. Maya will also present a paper discussing how the decline of Cantonese speakers is a threat to Hong Kong’s cultural identity.
   
• Robert Morris's project is to establish a sister city for a city here in Orange County and a city in Spain. Robert is working directly with Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus on the project. Robert's research paper will address the importance of sister cities for the advancement of cultural, educational, and economic opportunities.
   
• Willow Reid's project is to write a novel inspired by the plot of Hamlet and Constantinople in the Middle Ages. She will be working with WVHS English teacher Alison Gray. Willow's research paper will argue the value and merit of fantasy literature.
   
• Jay Spencer's project is to create a sculpture of an animal out of scrap material. His mentor will be Andrew Finney, an experienced recycled material sculptor. With his research paper, Jay will assert that human consumption is the leading cause of species and environmental endangerment, and that said damage is being done quicker than it can be prevented.
   
• Natalia Yacab is creating a music video for which she will write the music, film the video, and do her own special effects makeup. Natalia is working with a team of mentors including Ryan Fogler, a media marketing manager and Ithaca grad with a BFA in Visual Arts; Victoria Cirelli, a songwriter and a vocal instructor at Fishkill Music Academy; Tessa Pilon, a wig maker who does freelance SFX makeup. Natalia's research paper will look at the significant effects that music can have on our health.

Congratulations and good luck to this year's Senior Project students. Everyone is looking forward to seeing the results of your hard work in June!

Senior Project Announcement Ceremony Gallery