Seniors at Roaring Fork High School were sprinkled throughout the school’s auditorium and entry hall to fill attendees in on what they pursued as their Capstone project. Every student in the Roaring Fork School District is tasked with completing a Capstone project in order to graduate. They are able to choose something, anything (within reason) of interest that matters to them, and turn it into something that has an impact or takes them beyond the classroom.
This year, The Sopris Sun decided to highlight two projects in particular: those of its interns Yesenia Benavides and Gus Richardson. Both of these young people have been in The Sopris Sun Youth Journalism Program since their sophomore year, and many readers would recognize their bylines and/or writing styles.
For his senior capstone project, Richardson chose to highlight a very hip local band, of which he is a member: FOTOSTATIC. Richardson created a zine — a self-published magazine — featuring the band that is meant to be given out at shows and other events. The experience left him with an idea of what it’s like to promote a band, and the zine will serve to spark some interest and get more feet on the dancefloor at upcoming shows. “It has bios about the band members, lyric breakdowns and never-before-seen information about the Valley’s favorite teens,” Richardson summarized.
Benavides decided to build off of her position at The Sopris Sun for her project. Because she is passionate about immigration, and intends to study immigration law, Benavides pitched writing a series of related articles that will be published in both The Sun and Sol del Valle — so in English and Spanish. She has been hard at work, having interviewed an immigration attorney live, and in Spanish, on the air at the La Nueva Mix radio station in Glenwood Springs and following up with another attorney to ask some follow up questions. That first article is set to publish next week, so keep a lookout. Benavides wants to be a part of better informing the immigrant community, as well as the whole, on this increasingly important issue.
We are proud of Yesenia, Gus and the entire Rams class of 2025! Thank you for helping make a difference in our community.
