Capstone night, an evening filled with panic shaped by pride, was the highlight of the year for some and others, the bridge to their next academic climb. This annual event culminates months of research, experiments, planning, trials, errors, and collaboration that was compressed in a 10–20-minute presentation. Friends, families, teachers and well-wishers sat with poise, narrow gaze, ears focused, minds alert and faces filled with pride as they listen to the different topics and pointers shared.
As Capstone Night progresses, the harsh scent of stress fills the atmosphere. With confidence, students step forward one at a time, presenting their findings through oral explanation, outlining their research questions, methodologies, and conclusions. Pens roll across the pages as judges grade, annotate and jot down questions, takeaways and important points.
While the night seemed perfectly ordered, the inevitable happened. Some presentation rooms experienced frozen screens, shaky Wi-Fi signals, HDMI issues, and missing judges, increasing anxiety. Relentlessly Capstoners worked alongside younger classmates and teachers to resolve technical issues, rehearsed lines while being still optimistic.
Behind the scenes, teachers supporting the event felt the stress just as strongly. Ms. Irby, a teacher who helped coordinate Capstone volunteers, reflected on the moment technical issues began to unfold. “I wished our IT infrastructure was stronger so this would not happen,” she said, acknowledging the frustration felt throughout the building. Despite these obstacles, she emphasized that challenges extended beyond technology. “Beyond technical issues, I think the most difficult part of Capstone Night is choosing a topic that keeps both the students doing the project engaged, as well as the audience,” Irby explained.
As the night came to a close and the final presentations wrapped up, the atmosphere shifted from tension to relief. Ms. Irby shared that she felt proud watching students reach such a major milestone. “I was very excited for all of the presenters. Everyone came looking fabulous, and everyone seemed as prepared as they possibly could have been,” she said. “I was happy that everyone was just relieved to be done and closer to graduating.”
Capstone night served as an academic showcase and a milestone for seniors which marked the completion of a heavy task, the student’s ability to complete the assignment with their academic tools and the Fairchild Wheeler Campus’s commitment to academic development and achievement.
Aileen Ochoa and Tatianna Brooks contributed to this story
