Complete an Honors Capstone Project you are Proud Of!
Dr. Tom Grant | Assistant Instructional Professor, Capstone Co-Coordinator, Honors College
The possibilities are endless
Years ago, I was working on my undergraduate Honors thesis studying biogeochemical cycling of nutrients in adjacent stands of Aspen and Lodgepole Pine forests. I had no idea how to analyze the nitrogen mineralization data. No idea where to even start or what the project would culminate in. Would I write a paper, create a poster, or let my hard work dissolve into obscurity. As the co-coordinator for the UW Honors College Capstone Program, I often think about my confusion at this moment of my undergraduate career and how I can help Honors students complete their Capstone project without this confusion and frustration.
My co-coordinator, Dr. Joslyn Cassady, and I want you to know what is possible and expected of a Capstone project. We want you to know about the support services we offer and most importantly how to design a project that challenges you intellectually and one you are proud to have completed.
An Honors Capstone project is your project! You start with a question, problem or idea, then dive into the subject and create something new. This could be new knowledge or a creative work that expresses your ideas and passions. You can do research in any field or UW major, a service project addressing an issue in our community, an entrepreneurial project to develop your novel idea into a business, or create artwork that expresses who you are and what you care about. Students have created sculptures to address the lack of support for people struggling with mental illness in our community and researched how microbes recolonize soils following wildfires. The possibilities for Capstone projects are limitless.
Please join us at 7pm on Wednesday September 24 for our annual Capstone Fair. We will address all aspects of the Capstone process, including making an idea reality, finding a mentor, and getting funding for your project. As I wrapped up my undergraduate Honors Thesis, I found that Aspen and Lodgepole Pine forests decompose plant litter very differently and this affects nutrient availability and the severity of wildfires the different forest types experience. A little more guidance and support, and my project could have been even better. Dr. Cassady and I are here to support your amazing work. We hope to see you at the September 24th Capstone Fair and you can contact us anytime with questions or to discuss ideas (email: honorscapstone@uwyo.edu )
