The Catholic Memorial Scholars Program offers our strongest students the opportunity to grow intellectually and expand their academic horizons in ways not typically available to students until college. Based on models used by many colleges and universities for their honors programs, it is multi-disciplinary in nature while still affording students some room for academic specialization.

The Scholars Capstone Course is meant to be the culminating and integrating experience of a student’s time as a member of the Catholic Memorial Scholars Program. Its design allows students to deeply explore an academic topic of interest and significance to them personally while providing the structure to ensure that the effort maintains an appropriate level of academic rigor.

While projects may take on a variety of forms, including a research project, music, art, drama, or other product, every capstone project must include an academically-focused research paper that provides a thorough examination of the topic under consideration.

In addition, in keeping with the expectation that scholars at this point in the program should be far more self-directed in their studies, a considerable portion of the work is self-directed and requires excellent organizational skills and considerable self-discipline.

Upon completion of the project, students should possess a depth of knowledge of their subject matter and be able to readily convey that knowledge to others, including faculty and their peers, in both oral and written form. Toward that end, the Capstone Course culminates in the Scholars Capstone Colloquium during which each member delivers a presentation and defense of his project before a faculty evaluator and any interested peers, faculty, and guests.

Members participate in weekend and evening activities meant to complement and reinforce the ideals of the program. These include field trips, lectures, museum visits, concerts, plays, and special guest lectures or seminars. Fifteen to 20 events are planned throughout the year, and students participate in a minimum of five of them each year.

The capstone course is meant to be the culminating and integrating experience of a student’s time as a member of the Catholic Memorial Scholars Program. Its design will allow students to deeply explore an academic topic of interest and significance to them personally while providing the structure to ensure that the effort maintains an appropriate level of academic rigor.

 

Students formulate their topic and develop their project plans in conjunction with their Scholars Program Faculty Advisor according to the schedule provided. While projects may take on a variety of forms, including a research essay, music, art, drama, or other product, every capstone project includes an academically-focused research paper that provides a thorough examination of the topic under consideration.

Throughout the school year, students develop original research questions, complete in-depth research, and write an essay explaining their findings. At the end of each academic year, all participants have the opportunity to share with each other and the entire school community the work they have accomplished during the year through presentations at the Scholars Colloquium.