Senior Seminar | Internships and Capstone Projects

The Saint Mary's School Senior Seminar program is an integral part of the school's innovative, four-year, grade-specific, Seminar Program. During the first semester, the Senior Seminar program focuses on the college search and application process as students work closely with the college counseling staff and their individual college counselor.

The second semester focuses on giving students the opportunity to dive deeply into an area of interest through a capstone research project or internship of their choosing. Saint Mary's location in downtown Raleigh, provides myriad opportunities for students to connect with experts in a variety of fields and access businesses of all kinds.

Internships

Internship opportunities are designed to help students build key competencies while also developing greater independence through a concentrated, week-long, career immersion experience. The Senior Internship Experience allows seniors to explore career interests and observe a professional setting, all while enhancing personal growth.

At Saint Mary’s, we strive for each internship experience to be balanced between hands-on and observational. As an extension of the classroom, internships can enhance learning and core competencies.

The internship experience allows seniors to:

• explore a new profession or career interest
• practice professional skills, such as resume writing, networking and more
• interact with diverse populations
• nurture self-esteem and personal growth
• develop personal and professional responsibility
• cultivate strong and effective communication skills

The internship experience allows internship partners to:

• introduce students to a new company and career
• establish new relationships with local schools and educators
• develop new projects with student assistance
• foster good will in the community by serving as an internship host site

Capstone Research Projects

 

A capstone research project may include, but is not limited to, a research paper, a field study, or a collaboration with a faculty member or fellow student. The project is intended to showcase the development of a student's high school career or allow a student to more fully explore a topic of interest she may not have had the opportunity to explore as part of her regular academic program. A capstone research project allows students to apply what they has learned in new ways and in new contexts, which in turn deepens learning and provides the skills and knowledge needed to continue pursuing this interest in college or beyond.  A capstone project hones research skills and gives students the opportunity to defend their research and what they've learning with a presentation of their findings for a live audience.

Questions? Please contact Kayla Wyscarver at 919-424-4092 or kwyscarver@sms.edu. 

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My internship was fun and so exciting. I walked into La Maison on my first day thinking I would just be shadowing the designers, but they wanted me to actually work with them. It became my first real job... I can now picture myself being a designer in a few short years and my internship at La Maison helped me envision that.

Kate Garrison '20