Jennifer Heaslip/Herald Staff Writer

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WELDON - Donald Chapman slowly worked his hands down his mentor's back as she leaned forward in the massage chair, explaining his technique as he went along.

"Your hands will lead the way instead of your mind while doing a massage," he said.

A few moments later, the Weldon High student smiled and thanked the judges as he put the finishing touches on his Senior Project presentation.

Chapman was one of 22 students who presented their Senior Projects to a panel of community judges Wednesday. Each year, seniors spend a semester working on a senior project through their English IV class, which is a graduation requirement, in order to expand their thinking and introduce them to the real world.

Students choose a topic they are interested in, such as asthma, small engines or Italian cooking, and then work with a mentor from the community to learn more about their topic. They then complete a project that includes a research paper, a display board about the topic, a presentation before judges and the creation of a product that relates to their topic.

Chapman's product was giving a massage in front of the judges. He first talked about the muscular system, the power of touch and the uses and results of a massage. People usually get a massage for relaxation, to ease pain or for rejuvenation, he said.

Chapman then gave his mentor, massage therapist Nancy Grueneich, a massage as he explained how and what he was doing.

"I always felt that I had this special touch," he told the judges afterward. "I really did want to see if I had the power of touch."

He said he first wanted to do brick masonry but couldn't find a local mentor, so chose massage therapy.

"I'm just considering going to massage therapy school. I have put a lot of time and effort in my senior project," he said. "Senior project is very good for seniors. It shows you a good sense of responsibility and time management. It really opens your mind up."

Senior Project Coordinator and English IV teacher Alfreda Jarrett-Drake ducked in and out of classrooms, a satisfied smile on her face.

"I've only cried four times and I'm a funeral director," she said with a laugh. "I've been so proud. They all worked so hard."

The students showed growth in character, she said, and most explored topics related to future careers. "This is a learning experience. This is their connection to the real world."

The proof was evident throughout the school building. In one room, Alexander Price presented his senior project on tuberculosis and spoke about ways people get the disease, how it is related to HIV and how the disease moves through the body to attack the organs.

"I chose this for my senior project because someone in my family very close to me had tuberculosis," he said.

In another room, Rashod Dildy showed judges a clay sculpture of a large cat that he created for his senior project on sculpting. He also discussed the history of art and the steps of sculpting.

"It helped me a lot in life, realizing don't be late for deadlines and be on top of everything," he said about the project.

One of the most unusual projects was centered on embalming. Steven Brickell worked with a funeral director on his project and made a video of himself embalming a dog, which he narrated for the judges.

Embalming is something he has always been curious about, he said. He had to learn the tools used and the steps, and he also studied ways ancient Egyptians preserved bodies.

He spoke easily about cavity fluids, embalming fluids and chemicals. He told the judges that he had been calm around dead human and animal bodies and was considering pursuing the funeral business after school.

"I learned that I am a strong individual because not anyone can do embalming," he said. "I'm thinking about it strongly."

Bryana Cadena opened her presentation on child abuse and neglect with the fact that each year, 160,000 children suffer severe injuries from child abuse.

"It affects me emotionally knowing so many children are being abused," she said, adding that she loves children.

She explained the different types of child abuse, as well as shaken baby and fetal alcohol syndromes. She also talked about help available for parents and children. For her product, she created a brochure about child abuse and neglect and gave one to each of the judges as she told them what she learned from the project.

Staying on schedule is hard to do, she said, and staying motivated and being patient is important. She has also been thinking about a career in social work, "So it has influenced me a lot in what I'm going to do after high school."

Down the hall, DiShawn Edwards spoke to judges about the early stages of education and how parents should prepare their children.

She created a PowerPoint presentation and set up a display board outlined with cutouts of buses and surrounded by small blocks, bears and apples. She said she wants to major in elementary education and become a teacher.

"The hardest part in completing the project was, I think, the portfolio," she told the judges. "Because working with the children, that was just great."