CAPSTONE PROJECT

CAPSTONE Defined

CAP – STONE [kap stohn]

- Noun

The crowning achievement, point, element,event

Source: Dictionary.Com, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/capstone, August 2009

PURPOSEThe Senior Capstone Is an established component of the South

Carolina AHEC Health Careers Academy (HCA)

Provides an Opportunity to: • Demonstrate Leadership

• Impact the Community in which You Live

• Strengthen Your Commitment to Public Service

GUIDELINESWHAT: A minimum of 20 hours to prepare andfacilitate a community service project is required

WHEN: Must be completed during the 12th grade year

WHERE: Within your community

WHO: May be facilitated by an individual or a group of no more than 3 Academy Scholars

PROCESSStep 1: PLAN

Step 2: PREPAREStep 3: SUBMIT

Step 4: DOCUMENTStep 5: IMPLEMENT

Step 6: PRESENT

Step 1: PLANBRAINSTORM ideas of projects that will

make a positive impact on your communityExamples:

• Improve an existing school, community or church project

• Increase knowledge about health issues and/or health careers

• Bring awareness to community issues

• Impact children or peers

CONSIDER what resources, education and support are needed – are these available or can they be located?

The What

Step 1: PLANDETERMINE where the project will take place

•Does the location have enough space and/or rooms

•Is it convenient and easy to find

SCHEDULE the best day(s) and time

•Select start and end dates for your project

•Be sure that the selected location is available

•Give yourself plenty of time to prepare and plan

The When & Where

Step 1: PLANSET PROJECT GOALS by answering….

•What should the project accomplish?

•How many people will the project reach?

•How will you know that the project was successful?

The Success

Step 2: PREPARETAKE NOTES…

• IDENTIFY what resources and partners will be required to support successful project implementation

• RECRUIT individuals with knowledge and resources to request assistance with project implementation

• TRAIN to develop/improve skills that are necessary for project implementation

• PROMOTE your project to the targeted population

Step 3: SUBMIT TRANSFER your notes to the CAPSTONE

ACTION PLAN provided by the regional AHEC Health Careers Program Coordinator (HCP) prior to the deadline

RECEIVE feedback and suggestions

GAIN approval from the HCP Coordinator prior to starting your project

Action Plan

Step 4: DOCUMENTKEEP A JOURNAL Make an entry in your journal whenever

you work on your project

• Date the entry

• Document how much time was spent on that activity

• Include what you did, why, was it difficult, did you learn anything…

Step 5: IMPLEMENTJUST DO IT!!

CAPTURE OUTCOMES• Count the number of people attending

• Did you accomplish your goal? Yes/No, how do you know?

• What is the total amount of time spent preparing for and implementing the project

• Document this information in your journal

EXAMPLES OF SERVICE Coordinate a blood drive in collaboration

with the regional/local blood bank

Create an after school homework program for elementary students

Coordinate a health fair with resources to address health disparity issues within your community

QUESTIONS

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