Senior projects highlight growth in District No. 1

Students in Big Horn County School District No. 1 wrapped up one of the most meaningful milestones of their high school careers last month as seniors from Rocky Mountain High School and Burlington High School presented their capstone projects to panels of community evaluators.

A total of 39 seniors, 26 from Rocky Mountain and 13 from Burlington, delivered presentations showcasing months of planning, research and hands-on experience.

The Senior Project is designed to give students the opportunity to explore something they are passionate about while building real-world skills. Projects can focus on future careers, learning new skills or leading a community service effort. Each student is required to complete at least 20 hours of work and collaborate with a mentor from the community who helps guide them along the way.

At its core, the project is about growth.

Students research, plan and execute a project that pushes them beyond their comfort zone and then reflect on what they learned. Whether developing technical abilities or building soft skills like communication and leadership, the emphasis is on learning something new and being able to share that journey.

District Career Coordinator Sally Bernhisel said the program is designed to reflect the skills students will need beyond high school.

“Big Horn County School District No. 1 requires graduating students to showcase their learning and growth by planning and executing a capstone project,” Bernhisel said. “This is an outgrowth of Wyoming’s ‘Profile of a Graduate’ initiative, as well as feedback from community business owners. The program uses project-based learning, where students work closely with mentors, set clear goals, create strategic plans and see those plans through to completion.”

Among the many projects completed this year, two students were selected to present their work to the District No. 1 Board of Trustees.

Rocky Mountain senior Madalyn McCollam explored the topic of ACL reconstruction and suturing as part of a project designed to investigate a future career in surgery. McCollam studied knee injuries and surgical procedures while working with medical professionals. She practiced suturing techniques and used a knee model to better understand anatomy and injury.

Rocky Mountain High School Principal Betsy Sammons said McCollam’s project stood out for several reasons.

“Maddie’s project stood out because of her strong initiative, excitement for new learning and adaptability,” Sammons said. “When her original mentor relocated, she secured a new mentor and continued her work without interruption, benefiting from the guidance of both professionals. She demonstrated a high level of commitment, dedicating time and effort to her project because of a genuine desire to learn. Through experiences in multiple areas of the medical field, Maddie broadened her understanding of healthcare careers.”

Sammons added that the project helped McCollam refine her future plans.

“Upon completion of the project, she affirmed her interest in pursuing a career in medicine while also refining her goals based on the insights gained from her hands-on experiences,” Sammons said.

Burlington High School senior Dalley Bassett completed a service-focused project titled “Groovin’ with the Grannies.” Bassett volunteered at the Lovell Care Center, spending time with elderly residents both individually and in group settings. She helped with activities such as bingo and other organized events while building relationships with residents and gaining experience in a healthcare environment.

Burlington High School Principal Autumn Tempany said Bassett’s dedication to the project made a strong impression on teachers.

“Dalley’s project stood out to teachers because she was so personally invested in it,” Tempany said. “She spent countless hours volunteering on a consistent basis at the Lovell Care Center and genuinely enjoyed her time with the residents. Her experience was very positive while allowing her opportunities to lead and grow her own skills.”

Bernhisel said both students exemplified the goals of the Senior Project.

“Both Dalley and Maddie chose projects that aligned with their interests and allowed them to learn more about things that excite them,” Bernhisel said. “They were thorough in their presentations about their experiences, including successes and failures, and were knowledgeable when answering questions from the evaluators. They demonstrated initiative, growth, the ability to work with people outside the school system and strong communication skills.”

A key component of the experience is mentorship. Each student works with a local mentor who provides guidance, expertise and encouragement throughout the process. Photos of seniors and their mentors were recently featured on the Rocky Mountain High School marquee, highlighting the strong connection between the school and the community.

The district was well represented by students’ creativity and willingness to explore a variety of new interests.

Rocky Mountain senior Colten Bitton studied service dog training, learning about canine behavior, obedience and advanced task training while working hands-on with dogs and documenting the process on video.

Senior Keylee Christiansen developed her digital photography skills by learning how to pose subjects, use advanced camera equipment and edit images while building a portfolio through senior, family and wedding photography sessions.

Burlington senior Paxton Philpott learned the process of beekeeping, working with a mentor to care for bees, manage hives and extract honey while producing a finished product to demonstrate his new skills.

Rocky Mountain senior Lauren Bassett explored radiology through a project focused on breast cancer awareness and education. Bassett created posters, announcements and outreach efforts to help educate others about the importance of early detection while learning from a radiology mentor about possible careers in the field.

Paul McNiven learned to play piano as a life skill and a way to serve others. Paul practiced regularly and performed two songs at his presentation, hoping to use music to bless others in the future.

Sammons said the wide variety of topics reflected the depth of student learning.

“Overall, the Rocky Mountain senior presentations were a demonstration of student learning and achievement,” Sammons said. “Students explored a wide range of topics, built valuable connections with community members and mentors, and demonstrated personal and academic growth. The presentations highlighted not only new knowledge gained, but also the confidence, creativity and dedication students developed throughout their projects.”

Tempany said the projects continue to improve as the program evolves.

“As we improve our clarity with these senior projects, our support for these projects and what we hope students will get out of them, the projects as a whole continue to get better each year,” Tempany said. “The more students can explore and experiment with areas of interest, the more they will know as they plan for college or a career after high school. This type of learning is invaluable.”

From career exploration to service projects and skill development, this year’s senior presentations showed how learning can extend far beyond the classroom. For the Class of 2026, the experience offered not only a chance to demonstrate what they had learned, but also a glimpse into the paths they may follow after graduation.