Students find different ways to create and learn in Genius Hour

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Photo by Lakin Davis

Seniors Brenden May and Chase Ast make candles for their Genius Hour project. The two chose the scent “Jamaican Me Crazy.”

Written by Lakin Davis, staff member

During the English Composition I class, the students have Genius Hour on Fridays. Genius Hour gives students time to work on a project that they’re interested in. One of the requirements for the project is to help someone in need.

“It’s a nice way to give back to people,” senior Alexis Pauly said.

Pauly and senior Makenzie Curry are doing a project called Little Hats Big Hearts. For the project, they crochet red beanies to donate to a hospital in Kansas City through the American Heart Association.

“You get a break from all the work you do and you get to do something you like,” Pauly said.

Two other seniors, Brady Beal and Ben Doffing, are making a helping hand for the elderly. The hand was 3D printed, and it will have strings so that it can close and extend in the same way as a real hand to help the elderly reach and grab items. They chose that project because they wanted to help the elderly a little more, and they wanted to learn more about 3D printing.

“I like the class because you can pick a project and it can be whatever we want and there are no limitations” senior Brady Beal said

Other projects the students are doing include raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association, learning sign language, making candles and making keychains.