Real-World Impact: Senior Capstones
Cloudcroft High School Seniors recently presented their work--organizing blood draws, community projects, archives, and more. CHS Junior and Mountain Monthly columnist Paula Finch reports
By Paula Finch
Cloudcroft High School Seniors are turning ideas into real-world impacts through their Senior Capstone projects.
At this year’s capstone presentations, seniors showcased their projects, designed not just to meet academic requirements but to solve problems, support their community, and leave a mark on Cloudcroft High School and their community.
This year, four of the five featured projects focused on improving daily life in Cloudcroft, from litter reduction and beautification efforts to blood drives and digital preservation.
Real World, Real Work
Marisa Romero took a healthcare approach, organizing two community blood drives in partnership with the school’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. The drives, held in December and March, were designed both to boost the local blood supply and to give CNA students hands-on experience taking vital signs outside a classroom setting.
Both drives exceeded their donation goals and drew participation from students and community members alike, Romero said. Donors and student organizers received additional incentives, including graduation cords.
The project gave CNA students practical experience before their clinical rotations, Romero said, helping them build confidence in a real-world medical setting.
Katelynne Avila tackled one of Burro Avenue’s most visible problems: litter. Inspired by a conversation with a customer at King’s Treasures, Avila launched a trash can installation initiative along the street. Initial estimates placed each can at $1,500, but Avila negotiated the cost down, ultimately securing two cans and a year’s worth of supplies for $750. Each can is clearly labeled as maintained by high school students.
To keep the program running, Avila recruited volunteers through the Cloudcroft National Honor Society (NHS) and Future Farmers of America (FFA), offering community service hours as an incentive.
After testing maintenance schedules during spring break — one of Cloudcroft’s peak tourism periods — the team settled on a twice-weekly collection schedule. The result has been a visible reduction in litter along the corridor, according to Avila, improving the area's appearance for both visitors and local businesses.
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Callie Peterson, a senior planning to pursue nursing, brought a different kind of improvement to shared spaces. Her “Growing Communities“ project installed flowers around school grounds and along Burro Avenue, including hanging displays at Dave’s Cafe and other local businesses.
The project faced obstacles — unpredictable weather, a tight timeline and uncertainty about who would maintain the plantings after graduation. Peterson adapted by using the school greenhouse and purchasing established plants rather than starting from seed. She worked with guidance staff on plant selection and placement.
“An environment can shape your life,” Peterson said.
She said she expects underclassmen to continue the effort in the years ahead.
Emma Yarbrough focused on the past. Her capstone project set out to digitize decades of Cloudcroft High School yearbooks, which she identified as underutilized historical records documenting changes in the community, local businesses and student life.
Using a scanning system organized by year, Yarbrough moved the archive from the 1950s through the 1980s and 1990s.
The work was slow — fragile pages and a steep technical learning curve made progress difficult — but the project is ongoing. Plans include a dedicated website with improved search features, with future students expected to continue the effort. “Yearbooks bring a sense of community and bond people together,” Yarbrough said.
McKenzie Ciulla built a community website using Google Sites to serve both residents and visitors. The platform includes local news updates, fire restriction alerts, hiking information, wildlife education and a directory of local businesses and events. It also highlights other capstone projects, creating a central hub for student work. A restaurant recommendation tool and QR code access are among the features designed to make the site easy to use from a phone.
Ciulla said she worked through challenges with time management and sourcing usable images while also learning new technical skills. Future plans include expanding coverage into surrounding areas and working more closely with organizations such as the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce.
Together, these projects reflect a senior class committed to leaving a positive mark on their community. Whether through cleaner streets, brighter public spaces, improved access to healthcare, preserved history, or enhanced digital resources, each student contributed something meaningful.
Their work stands as a reminder that even small initiatives can create lasting impact in a small village like Cloudcroft.
Paula Finch writes the Mountain Monthly sports column, Peak Performance.
Finch is an active member of the Technology Student Association (TSA), a national non-profit organization that encourages students to explore their creativity and technical skills through competition. She currently serves as Chapter Secretary and will serve as a New Mexico State Officer next school year.
After graduation, she plans to attend college to study Business Administration in Marketing and Journalism. Her ultimate goal is to build a career in professional sports as a Multimedia Marketing Manager.
“I’ve always been passionate about journalism and marketing, especially when it comes to telling meaningful stories and spotlighting people who deserve to be seen and heard,” Finch says.
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