Blog Feed

During my childhood, there were many moments when I couldn’t use my full creative potential. I would scribble in notebooks here and there and cut out snowflakes from notebook paper. There are so many imaginations and creative abilities in children. That is why I decided to start a Sunday school arts and crafts class for the students at my community church for my senior capstone. Cambodian Baptist church is a beautiful place that offers guidance into religion and faith. I grew up taking classes, but none of them dealt with art. This arts and crafts class gives children the opportunity to show their lessons creatively. I planned out different projects every Sunday for the students to do after their lessons. Each project is according to the lesson they were taught beforehand and the holiday of the week. All the projects led to a collage that the students put together at the end of the capstone which they get to hang up around the church. The students were able to present the lessons they learned in a creative form and brighten up the church. More students gradually started coming to church and teachers have told me how much their understanding of the lessons has grown as well as their attention span. This led me to continue the arts and crafts class even after my capstone. I saw how much imagination and creativity the students have and I knew there were more to come. I’m glad I could be a part of their creative childhood and impact my church.

EVIDENCE: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hggpBjyPJn19jWZ0bDWxPc9wBpVmmv0m?usp=share_link

BIBLIOGRAPHY: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ki96LgHIiG96NaMhFAIE2iXrqHZata98HRKGSsLUTrw/edit?usp=sharing

I made a camera dolly for the CTE Dig Vid Program. For those that don’t know, a camera dolly is a tool that is regularly used in the filmmaking industry. They’re used to get those smooth and steady tracking shots. Making a camera dolly was the perfect capstone for me because it allowed me to combine my passion for both Engineering and Filmmaking. I got the idea from seeing an instagram story from last year, when the CTE Dig Vid students were using a swivel chair as a makeshift dolly. Building the camera dolly proved to be very time consuming. It took research about the different kinds of dollies and their advantages. Then it took a lot of time working with Mr. Kamal and Ms. Ustaris to think of ideas. Most of the parts used in the camera dolly are from repurposed robots from previous years of our robotics club. A lot of the building was hours of me disassembling and reassembling to make sure that screw holes lined up. After weeks of work, I was able to create a camera dolly with an articulating arm that can rotate 360 degrees with a reach of about 3 feet. The large diameter wheels will allow the dolly to be used in most environments with flat ground. I’m proud of the quality of the camera dolly and hope it will be able to be used as a teaching tool for the Dig Vid students for years to come.

Link to Annotated Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vidKe1Cikmhda5V0H4D-wvUCtEK5yuy9x-TZkd_JoNs/edit?usp=sharing

Period poverty is defined as the lack of menstrual products and education, which is something many low-income women and girls face every month. I chose this because women all over Philadelphia wake up with their periods, but not everyone is able to manage them. Some women have to use items such as rags, socks, towels, and more in order to manage their bleeding, which isn’t good for the health of their vagina’s. Some women have to ration with the little menstrual products they do have, meaning keeping pads and tampons in for longer than what you are supposed to which could lead to toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a life-threatening complication caused by bacterial infections. For my Capstone I held six bake sales and raised over eight hundred dollars in order to buy menstrual products. I donated these products to “No More Secrets, Mind Body Spirit Inc.”, a non-profit organization ran by a mother and daughter, Lynette Medley and Nya McGlone, who give back to women in Philadelphia who aren’t able to afford menstrual products.

For my capstone, I decided to make a video on how to build a bike. Biking has been a long-time hobby of mine and I think it’s a great way to stay active. However, rather than buying a pre-made one, learning how to build a bike can be rewarding and educational and I hope that my video would make that process easier for people that want to get into biking. This project was basically me learning how to build a bike myself, building one, and making a video on how to do it.

Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AD3Wv8AxXKv0gh7crdXU3xYo1VFohXCS/view?usp=share_link

Process Paper: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11toLiNNkvhcQGd1aIxYE0nnEpRyVnmeRgPaGzQRfPCo/edit?usp=sharing

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17r14cVd2Snw2SFpb6eBZMb7sksHbFf-B6Af5n3ZagGA/edit?usp=sharing

I wanted my capstone to focus on the Latinx community. I wanted to educate others about the different type on business that we have in Philadelphia specializing on the stores in 9th street. Me and my partner Sarahi had to interview different owners. The final product on my part is a children’s book. In that way kids are able to learn about other cultures. The videos of the interview that we made are on a website that Sarahi created that component is so that adults can also learn about these stories. We tried to find a way so everyone could learn from this project. In the children’s you will find a combinations of short stories. Each will be talking about the challenges these people had to face their ups and downs. And it will include pictures that we took from these places

My capstone was a teacher vs students basketball game. I was inspired by my friend, Jaden, to create my own version of his idea. I chose to do this project because I wanted to involve the school community outside the classroom. After seeing the environment of my basketball senior day I saw how much the school liked watching basketball games and it felt perfect. I wanted to also have a positive impact on the community that everyone will remember later down the road and see how a positive school with events can benefit the education purpose. In addition, teachers and students don’t do too much bonding outside the classroom and I wanted to change that with my capstone I was able to do that.

For my capstone, I decided to create a poetry book that illustrates what community I identify myself within. Poetry is something that I’ve always done, but kind of got out of it a couple years ago, so I thought that I could start writing again and hopefully continue to write. I wrote 20 different poems and organized them together into a book to share with others. By creating this, I felt like I can be able to help people like me connect within their communities and maybe hopefully start writing poetry.

Here’s my poetry book:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EHLIniJUagQM1ZnxWud-cGXde89_6alx/view?usp=share_link

My capstone project involved shadowing a mechanic to gain insights into the craft and acquire practical skills relevant to their engineering pursuits. By combining my interests in cars and engineering, I embarked on a journey to understand the mechanics’ profession and explore its connection to the core values of research, inquiry, collaboration, and presentation. The research phase involved shadowing a mechanic and consulting external resources to gather information. Genuine curiosity fueled my inquiry into the life of a mechanic, while collaboration with field experts enriched my learning experience. To address the core values, I created two websites: one highlighting DIY car maintenance tips and the other providing comprehensive information on becoming a mechanic. The project involved a systematic approach, including extensive research on automotive repair and maintenance, hands-on experience working with a professional mechanic, and the development of knowledge-sharing platforms. My proficiency in various mechanical tasks improved as I acquired skills in engine diagnostics, electrical systems, and advanced repair techniques. The journey culminated in the creation of websites that served as resources for car owners and aspiring mechanics. Overall, this capstone project expanded my understanding of automotive repair, strengthened my problem-solving skills, fostered collaboration within the automotive community, and instilled confidence in my engineering abilities for the future.

For my Capstone I really wanted to incorporate something that would make my project feel meaningful to me. Since the beginning of my time at SLA and realistically all of my life I have been a student-athlete. Being an athlete has always inspired me to want to learn more about the athletes who came before us and shaped the way. My Capstone is a booklet about former Ben Franklin High School students who became professional athletes. I wanted to create a booklet with interesting facts and pictures of various athletes who graduated from Ben Franklin High School and played collegiate and professional sports. I decided to focus on Fred Carter, Pooh Richardson, Randy Woods, and Tyrone Simmons who are all BFHS alumni. The goal of this Capstone project is to highlight the great athletes of the past in a way that will inspire future athletes in our school community. I am proud that I was able to research some of the greatest athletes to ever graduate from our school building and I hope I turned it into a project that means something to our community. One message that I will leave to end my Capstone is that every high school student should play every sport they can. Being a student-athlete enriches your high school experience and creates unforgettable bonds and memories in the school community.

For my capstone, my goal was to create an insightful website about Complementary and Alternative Medicine, especially in regards to mental health and overall well being. I have had an interest in this field for a while, especially due to the fact that my family has always loved encouraging each other to try out different forms of CAM therapies in their spare time. My idea for this project sparked last year when I read an article about how a majority of CAM therapies were for the most part only used by adults. I have always had positive experiences with different forms of CAM therapies so I wondered why more teens with mental health issues did not try this out more often. This then led me to the idea of a website that could teach teens about CAM therapies that they could be doing from home and the benefits they could potentially have on their physical and mental wellbeing.

Final Website: https://camforteens.weebly.com/

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eLgFH4E461vybvyl89JL_N5LxEYFKOd_oadeLycypZA/edit?usp=sharing

For my senior capstone project, I created five short films. Each were written based on the five core values of SLA. I took those prompts with varying degrees of literality: some were written based on another meaning of the word, some ended up having very little to do with it, and some were more obviously inspired by the value itself. After finishing my scripts and sending them out for feedback, I shot all five of them over a month. In most cases, I was able to shoot an entire film over a few hours in one day, but I did have to pick up extra shoots a few times. I wrapped shooting and edited my films using Premiere Pro, a software that we learned how to use in Digital Video. I knew in the early stages of my project that I wanted to collaborate with the wonderfully creative community at my school. The cast and crew of these films are composed almost entirely of SLA students and staff. I enlisted the help of close friends, as well as students whom I hadn’t even met before. Directing people who I didn’t know was one of the biggest challenges for me throughout this process. It also was one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience. While these films are my writing, directing, and editing, they wouldn’t have been possible without the people who graciously helped me. Filmmaking is a collaborative art, and as I intended, my capstone is proof of that.

Link to my capstone films: https://vimeo.com/829258891

Link to my process paper: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iSmtpCZKVmKGEFCN071qQClwVuXpa6ET7MkgkxKS59g/edit?usp=sharing

Link to my annotated bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PkOrFW2-bA_fDqIQMiKCT88cypTZok_iqPDRUHGQWyI/edit?usp=sharing

What I decided to do for my capstone was build a physical therapy space for students to go to and use for when they were in a lot of pain or needed to loosen up any tight muscles that were preventing them from playing any sports or just preventing them from doing anything that involves exercises or movement. I chose this topic because of how many times I have been injured and needed physical therapy or any type of rehab to get back out on the field. I have been injured so many times in my life and all of the causes of my injuries were from me not stretching or making sure certain muscles in my body were loose. After care is a super important process you need to do in order to stay healthy and make sure you can fully function for anything you wanna do. I take a lot of pride in that now from learning the hard way and not wanting to do rehab or physical therapy and just making my injuries worse. Your health is and should be your number one priority. The steps I took to complete this capstone was to ask for help from others. Also having to sit down a lot and just think and think about how I can make this the best capstone that will be left here after I leave and still leave a big impact for others.

Annotated Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uaRe0dxIE-XD7dT7Q01f8yYNiqGsdpWEEBtXML7bv2Q/edit?usp=sharing

I grew up having eczema, hives, sensitive skin, and allergies to certain cosmetic ingredients. There are others who don’t have access to the resources I have or have a hard time dealing with the issue. According to NCCIH, one in three Americans are impacted by skin disease. My personal experiences has pushed me to further my research in AI in the medical field. I want to help those who need help make progress to that road in a less intimidating and easier way. I believe the first step would be a web app the user can use. They will get comfortable and one step closer to solving the problem and asking for help.

The importance of early diagnosis in the fight against skin cancer is necessary. Artificial intelligence (AI) has now developed to the point where it can be used to successfully diagnose cancer earlier than the current techniques.

I wanted to make a website with easy user interface, where it has all the information and educates the user about skin cancer and the use of technology in the medical field. My website (HTML, JavaScript, CSS) uses Tensorflow.js, a JavaScript library for training and deploying machine learning models in the web browser and Node.js. I collected 107 of the 10,000 images from the HAM10000 dataset. With those images, I created and trained a model in Microsoft Azure CustomVision.ai. I gathered most of my research for my research paper from Stanford Skin Cancer Program.

Website: https://senior-capstone-skin-x.c2003.repl.co/index.html

GitHub: https://github.com/cnbui/Skin-X/tree/main

Annotated Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Mc2D96NLRf8QvUycfBqBVu4yE-0QtAjtyN8U31Hl_lE/edit?usp=sharing

For my Senior Capstone, I made a 17-minute documentary about the leadership, growth, discipline, and other core values of the SLA basketball team. The documentary includes films of games, practices, and interviews with some of the people who were part of the team. I spent many hours editing the film footage to capture the ups and downs of the season. My goal was to make something with a positive message and to inspire others to become better and to learn from their mistakes.

I learned so much about myself during the working process. The lessons I learned during the basketball season and in the making of this documentary can be applied to many aspects of life and I will take them with me on the journey of becoming the best version of myself. I was really passionate and excited to create this documentary so I hope you can enjoy and learn from watching it.

The file is too large so here is the link to the documentary.

Abstract Paragraph: For my Capstone I decided to hold an event that helps to combat poverty in Philadelphia.I made bags with toiletries in them and handed them out, along with food and clothes that were donated. Poverty is an important social issue that needs more attention and more work against it. By researching poverty in Philadelphia, I have gotten a better understanding of its causes and effects. This information helped me come up with an effective way to fight poverty and do my part to try and improve the lives of those affected. Also, by showing the reality of those faced with poverty, I hope that my Capstone helps people realize how important this issue is regardless of us being desensitized to it. This was a long process that took a lot of planning but it was worth it to help people that are in need. During the event, I saw the effect that poverty has on people in Philadelphia. While I gave out the bags of toiletries, food and clothes, I saw gratitude and relief come over the faces of those that got them. It was humbling and reminded me of the urgency and need to find solutions for the systemic issues that cause poverty. With my Capstone , I wanted to raise awareness not only about the pressing needs of those affected but also about the issues that are overlooked that contribute to their situation. By engaging with the community and trying to provide basic necessities I hope I was able to inspire people to help fight against poverty.

Jed Ray Capstone Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOSqv25IYhk&feature=youtu.be

For my Capstone project, I created a collaborative mural that helps brighten the walls at our new school building. I came up with multiple ideas like doing a mosaic tile mural but due to time constraints I landed on doing a much simpler mural. I also had to come up with multiple sketches for my mural taking heed to the feedback that was given. I did have a couple of setbacks when completing the project like having to change mentors. But I’ve learned to push through them and come up with a solution and continued working on my mural. I traced the tree with a projector to create perfect lines so I could paint over them. I also made stencils of the leaves for the tree by using the cricut machine. It took me three days to complete the trunk of the tree. Then after spring break, I had the senior class start to paint their leaves. Several changes were made in the beginning due to different trials and errors when it came to having the seniors paint . But what was once an empty boring wall now has a mural of a tree with beautiful, colorful leaves that the Senior 2023 class will leave behind in SLA history.

Bibliography:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10nLTQx38AMI6rA41tfQYWqRsffsyfNgbi6qTYFV7gf4/edit?usp=sharing

How are stop motion movies made? How do you effectively tell a story with stop motion animation? What materials do you need to do it? Guillermo del Toro once said that stop motion was probably the, “purest art form,” due to the artist’s ability to control every aspect of the film. In order to create an immersive experience, the animator has to perfect imperfections; such as a child forgetting to shut a door, or an old man trying to grab a cup but missing it on his first try. A full feature film, with teams of dozens of animators can take months just to film a single scene. It’s no wonder that del Toro also remarks that, “stop motion is an artform kept alive by madmen.”

For my capstone project I created a stop motion short film. This art form isn’t entirely new to me, I’ve made stop motion films before. What made this film different was that I wanted to move beyond what I had done before. My goal was to design and build puppets from scratch, build and decorate a set for them, and use them to tell a short story. I wasn’t as focussed on telling a story with this film, so I could focus more time on the puppets, so I used a dream I had last year where Mr. Kamal made an army of evil robots to take over the school. Overall I am satisfied with what I created, and through this capstone found a new appreciation for stop motion animation that I didn’t have before.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/iYt2Jzn62EE

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mK3SAK3pwn-f9BEXQoL1Hsf9PM9Y2MUfUo6wMVwEc4c/edit?usp=sharing

For my capstone, I decided to install a water fountain at Camp Dark Waters (CDW). It would be placed in a corner of the field which would give kids easy access to water while they are playing running games in the hot summer sun. Without this fountain, the closest water fountain was a 5 to 10-minute walk. I decided to place a water fountain and a cool-down shower at the edge of the softball field. There was no pipeline that went to the softball field, so a majority of my project was digging the trench for the pipeline. I started digging in late March as the ground started to soften up, and with a few complications and unexpected circumstances popping up was not able to finish. Everything is set up and built, I just need to connect the pipeline which has to be completed while it is dry.

Link to Photos of Capstone: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/137ar8XdGtY-wU0DjECANE8jQwcSfZQD6?usp=share_link

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e_vK1iV8kfhdBFjFjVGq3UKuaNEqhpXhwHMExY-1x2U/edit?usp=sharing

Whatever I did I knew that I wanted to help someone who was less fortunate than me in some way, shape, or form. I thought that it would make sense for me to focus on a group that I felt was impacted highly. I decided that families that suffer from homelessness were often overlooked and forgotten about in times like these. I also thought about who was in this group individually, women, men, and children. The way that I decided to leave my mark on Science Leadership Academy was by showing that giving back is one of the most important things. My capstone project consisted of me raising money for a shelter called “Families Forward”. The SLA core values are something that I was constantly mindful of when I was doing different parts of my capstone project. I wanted to really make sure that I was able to cover each of the five values which are inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, and reflection. Seeing these values in action for four years you also learn that they are very versatile. My capstone project addresses all five in a way that affects others. I am most proud of my capstone project for its volume, I did not expect to be able to pass on so many things to the shelter. It makes me so excited to demonstrate what we can do as a community if we apply ourselves to things we care about.

For my Capstone project, I focused on plumbing and HVAC. I worked during the days I didn’t have school or holidays. The main purpose of my project is to teach others about plumbing and HVAC and why it is important. That’s why I decided to make slides and show pics of the work I do and my experience doing it. The process wasn’t too bad. It mostly consisted of showing up to work and taking pics of everything necessary for me to finish. I always wanted to be a plumber since I was 12 years old so I thought that this was the perfect project for me to do. I learned a lot from this project. I learned a lot of new facts about plumbing and HVAC that I didn’t know, and learning new things to me is something that will always be important because when you learn new things you can teach others about it. Learning from mistakes is another one because mistakes will make you more aware of what to do next time that’s how I learned some of the time while working during the days I had off its good and bad sometimes

Annotated bibliography  : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gAcBczeWqYsiifHPCRcxNplEH12-2tGFhtnr6C3n0i4/edit?usp=sharing

For my capstone, I captured the “Big Day” for a couple in four minutes. A video that allows the couple to relive the day of their wedding. This idea came about when I heard that the couple was getting married. I introduced the idea to them and they approved of it. I didn’t know how to compose a wedding video so I started by researching different sources. I gained insight into what I needed, what to capture, the editing process, etc. Then came the time to record the wedding. I then went through the editing process then lastly, exported the video. There are many things I learned such as being more prepared. You only get one shot in each moment and can’t do it over. I should have taken the time to practice with the camera I was using and have an overview of the location where the wedding was held. I have gained new experiences and challenges through this project. I believe in the importance of capturing memories for us to look back upon. I hope to make a wedding video again and improve on this project.

Wedding Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qT_u1ts6j42Ndtq4WoxR91hz5Wy1NVOf/view?usp=sharing

For my capstone project, I aimed to dive deeper into the field of animation. Animation has always captivated my interest. It has played a crucial role in my life since childhood through various animated movies and shows. Eventually, I decided to initiate a learning program that I managed during an internship course to help others learn about animation and how it’s done. During this animation ILP, I thoroughly guided the participants through the animation process. We were able to create some amazing animated objects while learning. However, the achievement wasn’t complete without fostering a safe and diverse learning environment for my team to thrive and establish new friendships.

Here’s the Link to my “Process Paper”: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XGmqnSt73YNbgi5TATkgi_-optg6ipG8p4CGxZAFlEM/edit?usp=sharing

Down below ill attach a little animation I made! <3 (click it to see it move.)

I chose to create a website dedicated to immigration resources due to its immense significance in my life. Growing up with immigrant parents and residing in an area where immigrants are prevalent, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of immigrants. In the United States today, over 40 million people are foreign-born, highlighting the significant impact of immigration on American society. Immigrants have consistently played a crucial role in shaping American culture, society, and the nation’s economy. Their unwavering determination and pursuit of a better life have been the driving forces behind the American dream

Link to my website- https://sites.google.com/scienceleadership.org/immigrant-appreciation/home

Link to annotated bibliography- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PWnAn1buh36SUeuaPxrq-g0EGSAq8KdDi8AuUT1fzPE/edit?usp=sharing

For my capstone, I decided to make three different videos or reels that help highlight three of the more important programs and events at Science Leadership Academy. The three things that are shown in the reels are the Ultimate Frisbee team’s season, Educon 2023, and the Engineering Career and Technical Education program. The three different reels required hours of acquiring footage over extended periods of time, interviewing people at the events or in the programs, and long periods of editing and creating multiple different versions before deciding what the final version should be. The order in which they were completed was the Educon reel first, the Ultimate Frisbee reel second, and the engineering reel being the final one completed. I believe throughout the watching of these videos ou can see the evolution of the interviewing and editing process with myself becoming much better at both as the year went on. Both interviewing and editing styles are both acquired by practice, and my capstone project allowed me to not just discover my own, but in my research discover others editing styles and how the overall video industry does their event reel filming and editing. For the overall process, I would say hitting all five of the core values makes the Capstone process different from other schools. Inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, and reflection are what education stands on at SLA, so the process of a capstone is really trying to make something that benefits your school community while making sure each of the core values is represented in your efforts.

Process Paper: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x0GlOwZMPqiNEBipivQ6YTPluL71xvEKMjd2RxCOKpA/edit?usp=sharing

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XQF9XqIwv_SxbMlh5dBAqqeL0_5pHJsFRBaKBSaZ6Nk/edit?usp=sharing

Digitized Capstone: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aPmwCj-RGh9XBzoeMYDAansSaBCoIMxD?usp=share_link

For my capstone project, I chose to do something that would be important to me and that would have a positive impact on people. For over 20 years my father has worked as a Respiratory Therapist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and he has worked on infants in the NICU. He has come home and told me all the stories about the children in the hospital and the parents being desperate for their child to get better and for a way to be able to bond with them. While trying to find an idea for my capstone my dad told me about an organization at the hospital called, ‘Books for Babies’ they give books to babies and their families while they are in the hospital. At the end of my project, I ended up working with that organization and donating 80 books to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in the NICU. By giving books to families it gives them a chance to bond with their babies and it gave me a chance to give back to my community.

Link to my bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dk8EHYWkSAZ066dMnmW-3rBk1WmpdOBsPje9xkbQnkw/edit?usp=sharing