The Senior Capstone Project is the culmination of each student’s academic experience at Upper Arlington High School. This is a genuine way for seniors to merge their interests, passions and curiosities with their academic goals. Seniors are given the opportunity to demonstrate the autonomy, complexity and uniqueness of their Senior Capstone Project both in a written format and through the oral presentation of their project before high school peers and teachers.
In place of the Capstone Project, seniors in the Community School at Upper Arlington High School engage in a full-time, self-designed independent study exploration. These quarter-long projects may involve career-related experiences, community service endeavors, opportunities to hone practical skills, participation in college programs, involvement in a research project or the pursuit of a creative endeavor.
We welcome community ideas for our seniors. Please feel free to submit those ideas by filling out the online form at
www.uaschools.org/CapstoneSpotlight.aspx.
Jack Weimer: Peter Pan Jr. Running a Tech Crew
My project involved tech-directing Jones Middle School’s fall production: Peter Pan Jr. Over the scope of several months, I worked with a team of adults and middle schoolers to pull this musical together and bring it to life. My duties as the tech director included attending production meetings, scheduling teams, overseeing all technical aspects of rehearsals and shows, troubleshooting and finding solutions to any tech (and team) issues that arose, and ensuring a smoothly run tech crew through the shows. It also involved the fundraising for, purchasing of, and installation of brand new, state-of-the-art, industry-standard lighting equipment. After the installation, all students who showed interest in learning about this equipment were trained and given the opportunity to use it prior to the show.
Why did this focus interest you?
I have always been interested in theater. Starting at Jones in sixth grade, I began doing tech crew. Since then, I have worked numerous shows in and out of school. Doing a tech/theater project made sense for me as it is something I love so much. Also, it was a great opportunity for me to give back to an institution who has done so much for me.
How does this project bookend your academic experience at the high school?
I have always loved tech theater. I've been participating in tech crews since the sixth grade in and out of school. As such, this project let me showcase several of my strong suits and talents while expanding upon other skills. I am always up for a challenge, and this one fit perfectly with my career goals, passion for what I do, and tech experience.
What is your next step after graduating in May?
I will be attending Columbia College Chicago. In addition to pursuing a major in theater design and technology, I will also be minoring in creative advertising.