Elizabeth Celms
Mercer Island Reporter

Seniors at Mercer Island High School exhaled today after weeks of work and stress to finish their year-long culminating project. The May 19 and 20 presentations went more or less smoothly this week, with a number of parents and family members following the students from classroom to classroom. In total, approximately 290 students presented their work.

“People saw some great stuff,” said Culminating Project Supervisor Mike Radow. “There were lots of parents there, and everybody who stuck around saw good things.”

The only issue that arose was the absence of a few students scheduled to present their work. These seniors, however, will have a chance to redeem themselves next week along with almost 20 other students unable to present last week, Radow said.

Earlier this spring, the Culminating Project Committee set May 28 and 29 as the dates for make-up presentations. Most students showing their work on these days were unable to do so last Monday and Tuesday due to a scheduling conflict or MIHS sports commitment.

The make-up presentations, scheduled for after school, are open to all MIHS students, parents and the public.

According to MIHS Principal John Harrison, only a few seniors are currently at risk of not graduating. Yet it is “still too early to tell,” Radow added.

The Class of 2008 — the first at MIHS to complete a culminating project thanks to state legislation introduced this year — will walk in a graduation ceremony at the QWEST Event Center on June 6.

In order to receive their diplomas, the seniors had to complete 80 hours of work on their culminating projects, along with a reflective essay, portfolio, online log and schoolwide presentation. This, of course, is in addition to passing all of their classes and other state graduation requirements.

For more information on the culminating project, visit www.k12.wa.us/graduationrequirements.