Senior Project students visit Mount St. Mary College

The ambitious and enthusiastic group of Warwick Valley High School students in this year’s Senior Project program swapped one campus for another last week, traveling from the high school to Mount Saint Mary College!

The groups’ field trip to the college's scenic riverside campus in Newburgh is an annual part of the Senior Project course schedule. More than a dozen students are part of the Senior Project program class this year, and their trip was chaperoned by program advisors and WVHS teachers Jeanine Fogler and Danielle Bugasch.

“I love this trip every year! It’s a day was focused on developing essential skills for collegiate success,” Ms. Fogler said. “It’s an experiential visit that provides our Senior Project students with valuable insights into higher education—what some of the expectations will be, and the kinds of resources they’ll have available to them.”

Senior Project is nationally recognized program that combines project-based learning, real-world performance opportunities and professional networking, to give its participants invaluable know-how, insight, and experience into the fields of study that interest them most. The program’s largely self-led framework is a relevant and challenging test of graduates’ readiness for not only college, but also today’s fast-paced, global community.

The group’s visit to the Mount began in the college media center, where students were welcomed by Assistant Librarian for Access & Outreach Taylor Casey. Ms. Casey provided a specialized lesson on collegiate-level research methodologies.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for these students to be introduced to the kinds of advanced databases, citation tools, and source evaluating strategies that were shared with them during our visit,” said Ms. Fogler. “These are tools and skills that we know will prove to be instrumental as these students transition from high school projects to university-level coursework.”

Next, the group gathered in the student center for a session led by English professor Peter Witkowsky, who delivered a detailed lecture on academic integrity, emphasizing the importance of honesty in scholarship and outlining practical methods to avoid plagiarism. Mr. Witkowsky’s presentation underscored the ethical responsibilities of college students, a subject that aligns well with the Senior Project program’s emphasis on independent, authentic work.

Following the lecture-style sessions, students enjoyed lunch in the college cafeteria and then concluded the day with a guided tour of the campus. The tour highlighted academic facilities, student resources, and recreational spaces. The students appreciated getting to experience the collegiate environment firsthand, and the visit reinforced the Senior Project goals of cultivating independence, responsibility, and preparedness. The field trip gave the students both new knowledge and new practical skills (Which is so Senior Project!) and, of equal importance, a deeper appreciation for the academic journey that lies ahead of them.