Senior Thesis Finalists: 2024

In the senior thesis, students are tasked with a true academic challenge--develop a research question on a topic they are interested in, research that question using academic sources and techniques, and report their findings in a 10-20 page paper (though a few of our finalists blew way past 20 pages this year!).

In this paper, students are expected to be writing at the college level or beyond, and they are challenged to think deeply about their topic and critically analyze the evidence and arguments they are using to answer their question.

The papers linked to the right are the best examples of the 2024 papers, and were chosen as finalists for the Senior Thesis Award in that year.  The name that is linked in RED is the paper that was ultimately chosen as the best thesis.
WINNER- Maddie Tharp- What tools and strategies could be effective to increase youth voting rates and other forms of political participation?

Shea Davis- What factors influence the sustainability of a salmon fishery, and how can regions increase positive factors to benefit the sustainability of salmon fisheries across the world?

Jo Downing- What are the key factors for success in Adolescent Substance Use Disorder recovery, and how can those factors be best implemented into an ideal treatment model?

Brayden Harms- Is Tesla Turbomachinery viable in turbochargers for low-cost, high fuel economy vehicles?

Bella Ogden- How do Ezra Pound's “Portrait D’une Femme” and Margaret Atwood’s “This Is A Photograph Of Me” represent the modern and postmodern depiction of societal gender roles?

TED Talk Finalists: 2024

For their TED Talks, students are tasked with transforming their thesis topic into a 15-18 minute presentation in the style of a TED talks.  Talks should be informative, inspiring, and above all, leave the audience wanting to know more about their chosen topic.  Below are the finalists for the TED Talk Award of 2024.  The talk with the title in BLUE is the talk that was ultimately chosen as the best talk of that year.

WINNER- Cedar Fisher-
​Music Therapy and Alzheimers

Sam Brocker- Evolution of Storytelling

Shea Davis-
​Preserving Wild Salmon Populations

Maddie Tharp- Youth Political Participation

Jo Downing- Treatment for Adolescent SUDs

Llew Schill- Radiation and Public Understanding

Action Project Finalists: 2024

For the action project, students design their own project. The guidelines given are that the project should be ambitious, loosely connected to your thesis topic, and that it should have an impact outside yourself.  Below are the finalists and winner for the class of 2024.

WINNERS- Des Tsosie and Julian Dugas- Where the Stars Collide Music Festival
Project Description:
For this project, Des and Julian created a two-day Music Festival that raised $2500 for Mountain Studies Institute and International Tree Foundation on May 17th-18th at 11th Street Station and Santa Rita Park. This music festival included musicians such as Celestia French, Eiley Connell, Julianne Marqua, Dana Ariel, Jo Downing, Loki Moon, Galavant, Calliopy Danger, MystiCalsifer, Majik Ham, Nu Bass Theory, Kid Astronaut, and Mojo Birds. The event had multiple sponsors and local vendors.

To successfully accomplish this highly ambitious project, Des and learned myriad skills, including how to create a non-project, contract with artists, seek and manage funding from sponsors, create and distribute marketing materials, apply for local permits, and of course, all the other logistical pieces that go into a music festival.  

You can seen their own reflections at the following links: Des Tsosie and Julian Dugas.

Zoe Ramsey and Niko Peterson
Harm Reduction Advocacy and Education

Inspired by the tragic death of their classmate, Gavinn McKinney, of an accidental fentanyl overdose, Zoe and Niko jumped into public advocacy. For the last two years, they have worked to raise awareness and lower risks by advocating for naloxone to be more widely available to adolescents at the school, local, and state levels. They have spoken to school boards, advocated at the state level on a bill with representative Barbara McLachlan, and run a drug education curriculum at Animas High School focused on accurate information and harm reduction.

This project stands out for the effective advocacy and multi-pronged approach, as well as the willingness to engage in true civic action and governmental processes. 

See their reflections at the following links: Zoe Ramsey and Niko Peterson.

Col Hinds
​Anti War Fashion Design

For his project, Col tackled two things that at first seemed unrelated- tailoring and pattern creation of menswear, and sending a message about the conflict between Israel and Gaza. Col was impressive throughout this project in his thoughtfulness and persistence, spending hours perfecting his pattern, and thinking carefully about what message he wanted his clothing to send, and the best design to communicate that message. Along the way he collaborated with a local screen-printer on his design, and learned many new fashion-design skills.

This project stands out for a willingness to tackle new skills and persevere when things get hard, local partnerships, and a final product that is relevant and refined. 

See his reflection at the following link: Col Hinds
​

River Horner
Portraits of Generations at Work

For her project, River learned how to do portrait photography and editing, as she showed generational differences in work approaches and attitudes. For this project, River photographed a number of different generations in their workplaces, and interviewed them about their attitudes towards work. She then learned how to professionally edit her photographs to communicate her message clearly, and collaborated with a local coffee shop to display her work to the public. 

This project stands out for River's commitment to refinement and quality, the professionalism she displayed in organizing and conducting her shoots and interviews, and the independent public exhibition.

See her reflection at the following link: ​River Horner

Llew Schill
Constructing a Cloud Chamber

  After studying the history of radiation for their senior thesis, Llew turned towards demonstrating radiation for their senior thesis through the construction of a working cloud chamber. A cloud, first created by Charles Thomson Rees Wilson in 1911, is a device that allows visualization of ionizing radiation through its interaction with isopropyl alcohol vapors.  Llew's cloud chamber is fully functional, and they have donated it to Animas High School to use in future science classes and projects.

This project stands out for a working scientific demonstration, and the clear knowledge Llew possesses about what the cloud chamber is demonstrating. 


See their reflection at the following link: Llew Schill

Hanna Barney and Leela Fallows
​Gender in Skiing and Mountain Biking Documentary

For their project, Leela and Hanna created a documentary about gender and sports that featured interviews with local women about their experiences, and lots of exciting footage of female athletes on the trails and slopes. They also sought to build community across genders, with an event designed to bring locals together to share their season edits for ski and snowboarding footage.

This project stands out for the clear message, variety of footage, and clear narrative, as well as the event they organized for the community.

See their own reflections at the following links: Hanna Barney and Leela Fallows.