The Capstone program is an opportunity for Minnetonka High School seniors to participate in a two-week off-campus experience at the end of the school year. Through the program, students are able to discover new interests and further invest in their passions by exploring a career field, service work or a project of interest with a mentor in a real-world setting. Through this unique experience, students can gain valuable knowledge and acquaint themselves with potential career paths.

In 2023, students completed projects on a variety of unique and creative topics, each demonstrating the students’ individual passions and eagerness to enrich their knowledge and experiences. Project topics ranged from “Shadowing an Allergist” and “The Power of Clean Energy” to “Navigator Sustainable Frozen Dessert Challenge” and “Dylan's Lawn Care.” 

Amy Livorsi, the coordinator for the Capstone program, spoke about the diversity of students’ pursuits and the true Capstone spirit embodied by each of them. “The greatest thing about Capstone is that seniors choose what they want to do, so they are motivated and excited to get the most out of the experience!” shared Livorsi.

Regardless of the project undertaken, the participating students found themselves growing and gaining new skills, even in the short amount of time provided. 

“Today marks the last day of my capstone experience and it has been one of my favorite things of high school. I had so much fun doing this project and have learned a lot about photography and marketing,” shared Logan Warren ‘23 in the final blog post in his project on the Ely Outfitting Company and the boundary waters. 

Emily McNeil ‘23 shadowed a local optometrist for her Capstone project. “I truly learned a lot from this experience not just in the technical diagnoses of optometry, but most importantly in the patient side of the medical world,” she said.

One of the most memorable moments from the year was the yearly Community Fair, where students showcased the end results of their projects. “There is quite a bit of pre-work that goes into doing Capstone that probably isn’t the most fun or memorable, but hearing about how that work contributed to the amazing experiences the seniors have during their two week projects is definitely a highlight,” said Livorsi. 

No matter the passion or interest of a student, participating in the Senior Capstone Project can be an incredible option for seniors in the coming school year.