‘Gallery Walk’ allows future college
students to showcase research projects
MURFREESBORO,
Tenn. — Blackman High School senior Jania Boddie plans to major in
studio art and graphic design when she enters Middle Tennessee State University
later this year.
So it was no surprise that
her capstone research project as part of the Blackman Collegiate Academy had an
intensely artistic focus — the impact of child art therapy in terms of
communicating emotions — and required three days of observation and hands-on
activities at a local Boys and Girls Club.
That’s pretty heady stuff
for a high school student to tackle, but such challenging research topics are
expected at the academy, which held its third annual Capstone Gallery Walk for
almost 60 seniors, their proud parents and a host of supporters on Feb. 8
inside Blackman’s cafeteria.
“The research, and all of
the time and effort and support that I’ve put into it, and all of the help from
my family and friends as well … it just prepares you for the college courses
and all of the presentations that we’ll have to do,” Boddie said.
Launched in 2015,
the Blackman Collegiate Academy includes a special partnership
between MTSU and Blackman that allows eligible juniors and seniors to take up
to six hours of university courses taught at Blackman by MTSU instructors at no
cost. The credits will count on high school and college transcripts.
The academy attracts
high-achieving students, with the current BCA senior class having taken more
than 1,210 advanced courses, boasts an average GPA of 3.78 and an average ACT
score of 27.75.
For the Capstone Gallery
Walk, which was open to the public, students set up display booths to showcase
their research and fields of interest, ranging from health sciences to
journalism and from fine arts to science and technology.
“This is a great activity
for us to be able to come to, to actually see the outcome and the product of
the work of these young students,” said Deb Sells, MTSU vice president
for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment and academic services.
“We’ve had the
opportunity particularly this year to have some of our faculty serve as mentors
in their research. That means a lot to us to have that connection at the high
school level with students that are so bright and already so focused.”
Blackman Assistant
Principal Ken Reed, academy coordinator, said the program
enables students to take their knowledge outside the classroom to complete
research projects and make presentations to outside entities and organizations.
“It’s a difference-maker for
them,” he said. “They get an opportunity to start that research and then
continue that type of work at the next level.”
BHS Principal Leisa
Justus said establishing the academy was a critical addition to her
campus because it offers top middle school students and their families and
attractive destination for the next step in their academic careers.
“We want them to choose
Blackman High School,” she said, “… because it is a rigorous academic
(environment). We’re a mini-college.”
Blackman senior Cole Harkin’s
capstone project involved researching strength-training benefits (physical and
mental) for children and adolescents. His work included creating and designing
a website featuring warming up and cooling down videos.
With plans to attend MTSU
majoring in exercise science, Harkins feels the academy has helped prepare him
for the demands of higher education.
“I definitely learned
better time management skills,” he said, “being able to pace myself throughout
the semester in order to get a finished project. … It’s also taught me personal
life skills, like being able to communicate professionally with an adult.”
Justus said BHS will be
adding two more dual-enrollment classes to the 13 already being offered at the
west Murfreesboro high school.
For more information
about the Blackman Collegiate Academy, visit http://bhs.rcschools.net and click on the
appropriate link under the “Academics” tab.
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