WVHS Senior Project students reveal their 2023 research topics

January 12, 2023

The nationally recognized Senior Project program at Warwick Valley High School held its annual topic reveal ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

Seventeen Warwick Valley seniors formally announced their topics for the 2022-2023 program, which kicked off in the fall with group activities, including field trips, guidance from club advisors Nick DiLeo and Jeanine Fogler, and team building exercises. Tuesday’s event kicked off with a welcome message from WVHS Principal Ms. Marguerite Fusco, before Mr. DiLeo presented this year’s keynote speaker, veteran NBC NY News 4 reporter and anchor — the one and only — Pat Battle.

View a photo album from the Senior Project topic reveal ceremony after this story.

Ms. Battle talked to the students about how important it is to pursue their passions, and to have perseverance to meet and overcome the challenges they will encounter in pursuit of their goals. She shared stories of her own beginning as a beat writer at the small Asbury Park Press through her start at NBC in 1996 and subsequent rise to the anchor desk. Ms. Battle encouraged each of the students to take full advantage of such a great, largely self-directed learning opportunity.

“The things that these students are researching, the depth of what they are learning, the things they are getting to do today is way beyond anything a lot of us were doing at their age,” said Ms. Battle, as much to the many parents and teachers in attendance as the students themselves. “I’ve heard about so many ambitious projects from these students, and I cannot wait to see the outcomes and results.”

Prior to making her address to the Senior Project class, Ms. Battle spent time touring the WVHS production studio and meeting with production teacher Dan Ciccone and his students.

View a photo album from the Senior Project topic reveal ceremony after this story.

The Warwick Valley version of Senior Project has been specialized over the years, into a unique independent study opportunity. The programs 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 these four key components.

The Project
What each student chooses to study, and goals they set to accomplish with their mentor.

The 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.

The Portfolio
This piece chronicles each student’s process, including documentation, correspondences, photos, and anything else related to the project.

The Presentation
Students give an oral presentation on their topic and outcomes to a panel of judges drawn from the District and the community.

View a photo album from the Senior Project topic reveal ceremony after this story.

This year’s Senior Project participants (and their topics) are:

Sarah Aljucic
Design/sew her own formal gown from scratch

Nathan Durgin
Produce an entire cabaret performance

Jackson Frommeyer
Achieving an exceptional score on Air Force ROTC Physical Fitness Asessment

Marissa Gratzel
Learn the art of bagel and pastry making

Ada Gurvich
Write and illustrate a comic series

Owen Hoey
Produce/record an original rock album

Elizabeth Ladouceur
Paint an original mural

Madeline Lee
Write a memoir

Patrick Liszewski
Learn various aspects of game design and create a video game concept demo