BA Capstone Projects
Undergraduates at Naropa University develop a comprehensive understanding of both foundational and advanced concepts and methods in their area of study. Students build awareness of contemporary issues, and demonstrate the ability to apply, synthesize, or create knowledge through a Capstone project or paper which culminates in a presentation of their discoveries at the Bachelor of Arts Capstone Festival.
Students deliver their thesis research, senior projects, culminating manuscripts, performances, and gallery presentations from all senior level capstone courses. The presentation of capstone work takes place each semester in a community-wide festival hosted throughout the school day and into the evening. Students enlist the skills and qualities of their Naropa education to deliver a 10-40 minute presentation, reading, performance, workshop, or business pitch to an audience of Naropa community members ranging from students and teachers, to alumni and community leaders. The Festival is a part of students final grade in the Capstone course.
In Spring 2018, Naropa College Curriculum and Assessment Committee approved the Capstone Festival as an undergraduate initiative for all BA Capstone courses as the completion of the undergraduate curricular arch and the shared Undergraduate Learning Objectives. The Capstone Festival promotes real world skills development and integrity across the curriculum. A primary objective of the Capstone Festival is to raise the expectations in how students’ engage and present in front of an authentic audience in preparation for career development.
Many of the Naropa College Core Seminar classes attend the Festival as audience members, an expectation of their final class of the term and to give students a sample of what the culmination of a Naropa degree requires, so as to create a through-line from orientation to graduation. Capstones are considered a high impact practice (joining ePortfolios, Living and Learning Communities, common intellectual experiences, and community-based research) meant to inspire and reconnect with the undergraduate student experience.
Video created by Naropa student, Rachelle Storti.
BA Capstone Festival Spring 2020
This year BA Capstone Festival will be presented live streaming. To join live on Zoom, please RSVP to Seann Goodman at sgoodman@naropa.edu for the zoom link and password.
Psychology
April 28th 11:30-2:30
Marina Batah
Embodied Beings
Molly Bremner
Investigating the Intersection of Autism Development
and the Polyvagal Nervous System Model
Devin Ratigan
A Western Cultural Dilemma: The Importance of Human Connection,
Nature, and Community for Mental Health
Connor Heikkila
The Diaspora of Disembodiment
Erika Feely
*
Gillis Bratsch
Reprogramming the Mind
Tanner Rauh
The Way Out Is In: The Psychology of Jung and Indian Philosophies
Claire Connolly
From Diet to Eating Disorder: The Argument for Ditching the Diet
and the Body Mass Index
Shatasia Griffith
Implications of Westernized views on Shame, Sex and STD’s
Psychology
April 28th 3pm-6pm
Johnna Grice
A Conversation of Grief
Madeline Manning
Attached to Trauma: How Somatic Experiencing Targets the Healing of Trauma
Through the Lens of Attachment Theory
Morgan Kusmer
Kick, Pow, Punch: The Impact of Muay Thai on Trauma Recovery
Jacquelyn McIntosh
Destroying Their Innocence: The Psychological Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Moonbeam Marie Gardebring
Weaving a Beautiful Death
Hannah Feely
Stress Related Psychological Trauma and the Importance of
Mind and Body Connection
Zara Pines
Know Thyself: Breaking Free of Superficial Self-Awareness
Jennacee Carsello
A New Type of Medicine; Yoga Benefitting the Mind and the Body
Kenna Faust-Cavendish
The Universe as a Playground: Bridging Spirit & Matter,
How Thoughts, Perception and Belief Shape Our Reality
Psychology
May 5th 11:45am-2:45pm
Wenonah Electra Washington
Multicultural and Contemplative Pedagogy for
Positive Psychoeducational Development
Tiffany Rudashevsky
Understanding Self- Sabotage: The Hidden Call behind Resistance
Matthew Paschich
A Dialogue with The Tao
Tara Blackburn
Somatic Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Theory: A Philosophical, Intersubjective Approach to Understanding How Humans and Machines Can Communicate Through Consciousness and Matter.
EC
Mindfulness Implementation on Adolescent Population
Eshan Singh
Reality Vs. The Brain:
Exploring How Shifting Unconscious Personal Beliefs, Shift Perceptions of Reality
Bonny McWethy
Into the Fire
Logan Porvaznik
Karem Smith Stone
How Beauty and Reverence Awaken the Inner Artist
Visual Arts and Art Therapy
Friday May 1st 11:45am-245pm
Morgan Aynesworth
Paintings and Drawings
Erica Brigger
Fluid Art Portfolio
Poured Acrylic Paintings
Abigail Hofweber
Painting and Collage
Soren Holmgren
Op Art Paintings
Elian Israely
Fabric and Pattern Design
Christina Kaplan
Digital Art, Beastiality
Serra Kizar
Pottery as Politics
Ceramic Vessels
Randall Mauriocourt
Embellished Sacred Objects
Olivia Neumann
Ceramic Hands and Paintings
Swechhya Rajbhandari
Painted Figure
Lily Raznick
Ethereal Reflections/Six Piece Portfolio
Mirrors and Tattoos
Diana Rodriguez
Painting and Collage
B Sitkin
The Fine Thread of Presence
Ceramics and Sculpture
Michelle Wilim
Poured Paintings
Interdisciplinary Studies
Wednesday May 6th 3-5pm
Audrey MeadowCroft
Ecology and Object(ification): As Sociopathy Loops Throughout the Anthropocene
Lucy Heller
Animal Oppression and Human Supremacy: What I’ve learned from Bearing Witness Outside of Slaughterhouses
Patrick McAuley
Why Psychedelic Therapy Needs Mindfulness and Meditation
Kara Ashley
Natural Highs: A Climbing Empowerment Summer Program for Youth in Iqaluit
Idan Erez-Slott
Humanizing Social Justice Activism: How to Bring our Full Selves into our World–Changing Work and Why
Samantha Benowitz
Magic as Texture: A Creative Curiosity & Conversation on How to Communicate the Mystery within Everyday Life
Sylvia Snow
The Anthropo-cosmic Body: Dancing the Five Acts of Shiva
Previous Capstone Projects Include:
“Illuminating Individuation” by Naomi Brodner
“Mediums of Language” by Andrew Hawes
“Death as Teacher: Hiding in Plain Sight” by Seth Viddal
“Awakened Beauty: Happily Ever After is Within” by Mallory Bales
“A Cyber Realm: Conjuring Media Literacy and Conquering Technology Fatigue” by Monica DiCesare
“Bimanual Rhythmic Practices: A new form of Emotional Regulation and Cognitive Development for All Ages” by Austin Lokey
“My Exploding Heart: Investigating Ancestry for Global Holism” by Chelle Storti
“Mysticism: Queering Religion and Religious Queers” by Sasha Gaynor
“Wear the Veil, Know the Shadow” by Joshy Vang
“Light on At-Risk and Homeless Youth” by Emil Marz
“The Hallway: A Scene from Suicide Manifesto the Musical” by Becky Hunter
“The Philosopher (and the) King – a new musical in workshop” by Larkin Baron
“Reworking the Garment Industry: Slow Fashion and Social Enterprise” by Olivia Nielsen
“On Nights in the Starving Body: Deconstructing Eating Disorders through an Intersectional Lens” by Kailey Murphy
“Fractivation” by Kelly Emmanuella Bartell
“Trauma Exposure Response, Mindfulness, and the Path to Resilience: Naropa University Case Study” by Ayries Blanck
“Architects of Peace: Reconstructing Narratives from Either/Or to Both/And” by Jenna Corbin
“Cross-Cultural Reconciliation in the Classroom: Place, Identity and Youth Empowerment through an Indigenous Lens” by Cody Spyke (nominated for the Peace and Justice Studies Association Best Undergraduate Paper of the Year Award, 2011)
“The American Caste System: Mass Incarceration of African Americans” by Ebony Williams
“Understanding the Moral Imagination Through Waldorf Approaches To Education” by Julie Wood
“What Holds Up: A Feminist Coming of Age Story” by Julia Davis
Complete Capstone Presentation by Christopher Rachal.
