On Thursday, March 15, Project Lead the Way seniors presented their capstone projects and took part in the white coat ceremony at the Warrenton Rotary Club meeting.
Project Lead the Way seniors take the capstone course, called Biomedical Innovations. This course requires the students to complete a capstone project, which involves independent research of a Biomedical topic that they choose. The capstone project includes working with the community, connecting with a mentor, research papers, a written proposal, a scientific endeavor, a display of work, and an oral presentation to an adult audience.
Project Lead the Way Biomedical students who complete four years of the program are recognized in a white coat ceremony. The white coat ceremony marks the transition from Project Lead the Way courses to college courses. During the ceremony, the students recite a Biomedical Sciences version of the Hippocratic Oath, in which they swear to uphold specific ethical standards. At this time, the white coat and the blue cord are presented to them. The blue cord will be worn with their graduation gown at the Warrenton High School commencement ceremony. The students will wear their lab coats during their lab courses in college.
Since the capstone project is the last presentation of the year, the white coat ceremony is held at the end of the Rotary presentation. Rotary members, school district administration, and parents attend the presentation and ceremony. The white coat ceremony and reciting the Hippocratic Oath are traditions in the medical field.
Students that participated include Marley Burton, Rylie Cox, Dakota Davis, Eli Ecton, Allyson Haller, Tiffany McGee, and Brandon Molinari. Their faculty sponsor is Project Lead The Way Biomedical Sciences Teacher Jenny Hoffmann.