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From decoding the mathematics behind poker-like games to building a kayak by hand, the senior class capped off their time at Prep not with final exams, but with curiosity-driven deep dives into topics that sparked their passion.

In the weeks following their last day of classes in late April, seniors traded textbooks for tools, lab coats, microphones, and camera lenses, launching into independent projects of their own design. The culmination of their efforts was on full display during the Senior Experience Expo, where students shared their journeys with the broader school community.

This year’s projects were as varied as the students themselves. Some explored global questions of peace and justice, while others turned their attention to creative expression, scientific inquiry, or professional fields. Each senior worked under the guidance of a faculty mentor and often alongside experts in their chosen area.

The journey began last fall, when students met with senior English teacher Jenny Wheeler and Head of School Heather B. Mock to brainstorm ideas. Over several months, students crafted proposals, connected with mentors, and laid the groundwork for what would become capstone experiences marking the end of their Prep careers.

Here’s just a sample of the bold and imaginative work on display:

• Interviewing staff at the Center for Action and Contemplation to create a podcast on peacebuilding
• Shadowing ER doctors to witness medicine in high-stakes action
• Drafting architectural designs for an outdoor “third space” on campus
• Writing and producing a TV pilot
• Shadowing a Department of Justice attorney to explore careers in law
• Designing and printing a series of relief prints inspired by the bosque
• Analyzing the psychological and mathematical mechanics of the card game Balatro
• Taking on the formidable challenge of studying for and passing three AP exams
• Writing and illustrating a children’s book
• Raising funds for Camp Kenya while researching the nation’s socioeconomic conditions
• Investigating the volatile world of cryptocurrency
• Training as a medical research coordinator at the VA Hospital
• Writing a full-length screenplay
• Observing pediatric anesthesiologists in a clinical setting
• Photographing the streets of Albuquerque and compiling the images into a hand-sewn art book
• Painting a series of visual narratives inspired by deportation stories
• Interviewing grandparents about their childhoods and transforming their stories into a hand-bound book of original poems and essays
• Restoring and documenting the telescopes in Dr. Chalfoun’s classroom -- then using them to photograph the cosmos
• Gaining hands-on experience at a veterinary hospital

The Expo itself buzzed with excitement, as families, students, and faculty wandered through displays, listened to music and podcasts, viewed artwork and architectural models, and asked questions. Seniors shared not just what they’d made or learned, but how they’d grown: as thinkers, artists, scientists, and citizens.

The Senior Experience Expo served as a culminating celebration of the intellectual curiosity, creativity, and independence that define a Prep education. Through their presentations, seniors demonstrated not only mastery of their chosen subjects but also the capacity for critical thinking, disciplined inquiry, and meaningful reflection. Their projects offered a compelling testament to the depth of their learning and the breadth of their interests, marking a fitting conclusion to their time at Prep and a promising beginning to the paths that lie ahead.