If the Cap Fits: Seniors Explore Passions through Capstone Project

If the “Cap” FitsIf the “Cap” Fits is a signature editorial feature aimed to highlight the exciting experiences of Oak Knoll School seniors as they step out of the classroom during the month of May before graduation to complete a Capstone Project. As the final “cap” to their high school experience, Capstones allow seniors to independently explore different areas of interest to them, whether it is academic, creative, career or service-oriented and students are challenged to demonstrate their passion for discovery beyond the limits of the curriculum. Got a Capstone story to tell? Get in touch with laura.perillo@oakknoll.org.


Olivia Casey ’22
Capstone: The Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center

Q: What is your senior Capstone Project?

My senior Capstone Project takes place at the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. I am shadowing a nurse in the Maternal and Child Department.

Q: How & why did you become interested in this Capstone Project?

I became interested in this Capstone Project after deciding on my major last summer. It has always been my dream to volunteer in a hospital, but the pandemic limited the opportunities. I am so thankful for all the healthcare workers that guided us through the pandemic, and I cannot wait to become one!

Q: How did Oak Knoll School prepare you for your Capstone Project?

Oak Knoll prepared me for my Capstone Project by providing me with the support and communicative skills needed to carry my Capstone through. The administration checked in with me consistently to see the status of the paperwork and offered to help with anything they could. Through many presentations at my time at Oak Knoll, I gained the necessary public speaking skills and confidence needed to carry my Capstone through.

Q: What’s next for you after your graduation from Oak Knoll? What are your summer plans?

I will be attending Baylor University as a nursing major. At Baylor, nursing students spend two years on the main campus, in Waco, Texas, then move on to the nursing school in Dallas. For this upcoming summer, my university has a week-long orientation which I will be attending at the end of June. I also plan to travel, work at a restaurant in my hometown, and babysit!


Haley Meehan ’22
Capstone: Crimson Capital

Q: What is your senior Capstone Project?

My senior capstone project is working at Crimson Capital. It is a real estate investment firm that my uncle founded and heads up. I will be running errands, sitting in on meetings, and possibly organizing files amongst other things. 

Q: How & why did you become interested in this Capstone Project? 

I became interested in working with my uncle at Crimson Capital because I have always noticed how much my uncle loves what he does. I also want to have that same passion when I decide what my future job will be. He is also a lawyer which is what I would like to be so I wanted to see how law could be intertwined into other fields such as real estate. 

Q: How did Oak Knoll School prepare you for your Capstone Project? 

Oak Knoll prepared me for this experience because they helped me develop great organizational skills as well as the interest to always keep learning. I have also developed great interpersonal skills which gave me the confidence to articulate my thoughts to adults. 

Q: What’s next for you after your graduation from Oak Knoll? What are your summer plans? 

I will be attending the University of Georgia in the fall and will be majoring in Criminal Justice. I will be working at the YMCA as a camp counselor over the summer. I am so excited for the next phase of life and for the last couple of weeks I get to spend with my friends and family. 


Sophia Pharaon ’22
Capstone: Warren Oral Surgery 

Q: What is your senior Capstone Project?

For my senior Capstone Project I will be working as a surgical assistant at Warren Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center, a group practice in Warren, NJ. My job consists of assisting: aiding during surgeries, whether it be passing tools or suctioning, pre and post-op patient care, cleaning/organizing tools and materials, or taking X-Rays and CAT Scans. 

Q: How & why did you become interested in this Capstone Project?

After having my own wisdom teeth extracted at Warren Oral Surgery, I became fascinated by the whole process, which opened a new world for me. I’ve always wanted to become a surgeon, and realized that becoming an oral surgeon would allow me to specialize and become a master in one part of the body and maintain the most hands-on relationship with patients during their healing compared to other surgical professions.

Q: How did Oak Knoll School prepare you for your Capstone Project?

It does take a certain kind of person to become a surgeon, but Oak Knoll definitely played a role in fostering that side of me. The grit I learned from Oak Knoll tennis and lacrosse comes into play when standing for long periods of time, the dedication it takes to study for tests is the same it takes to learn a surgical process, and the cool-headedness it takes to do both is important when focusing on a patient’s health in a stressful situation.

Q: What’s next for you after your graduation from Oak Knoll? What are your summer plans? (What university will you be attending this fall?) and (What will be your major?)

After Oak Knoll, I plan to attend the College of the Holy Cross to pursue a major in Neuroscience (on the pre-med track) and a minor in Arabic. However, before I head up to Massachusetts, I plan to relax, play tennis, and get tan this summer! 


Grace Daggett ’22
Tasty Enterprises 

Q: What is your senior Capstone Project?

A: My senior capstone project is working at Tasty Enterprises, a nonprofit organization that has accounts throughout the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn and aids in providing assistance and rehabilitation to ex-convicts, recovering drug users, and LGBTQ+ community members. I mainly bag lunches for the homeless and prepare schedules for upcoming events and programs.

Q: How & why did you become interested in this Capstone Project?

A: During my junior year, I started working there as a volunteer and I have also gained perspective from the people I have met there. I can keep pursuing my goals of helping the Bronx community in need of resources, especially due to COVID-19, which left many without healthcare, housing, and job opportunities. I wish to continue this type of work with human services as they share the mission of offering support to others in underprivileged neighborhoods.

Q: How did Oak Knoll School prepare you for your Capstone Project?

A: Oak Knoll prepared me for my Capstone project with the influence of the Hold Child Goals surrounding service and other service-based trips, like service day and Bridges runs. This school has always encouraged students to partake in service-based opportunities for the students and has greatly contributed to me wanting to fulfill more volunteer experiences for this Capstone project and hopefully college, too!

Q: What’s next for you after your graduation from Oak Knoll? What are your summer plans? (What university will you be attending this fall?) and (What will be your major?)

A: Throughout the summer, I will continue to work with Tasty Enterprises until I have to leave for college and will be a camp counselor at the summer camp I used to attend when I was little. I will be attending Tulane University in the fall and although I’m going in undecided, I know that I want to participate in some type of volunteer work during my next four years and that my school offers many opportunities for me to do so!


Sophie Zangara ’22
Habitat for Humanity, Randolph

Q: What is your senior Capstone Project?

For my Capstone Project I will be working at a Habitat for Humanity Restore in Randolph NJ. These Restores accept donations of new and gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building material and more and sell those items to the public for a discounted price. Habitat for Humanity is a charity dedicated to giving back to communities. Through the sales at the Restores, they can fund building projects where volunteers come together to build affordable homes for members of their communities.

Q: How & why did you become interested in this Capstone Project?

I have been interested in the Habitat for Humanity charity for a while. My interest in this charity started when I found my love for woodworking. I’ve built a cornhole set, a minigolf hole, and a chair from skills I learned at a weeklong woodworking camp I took part in during the summer going into freshman year. I then came across Habitat for Humanity and learned that they build houses for people. I looked further into the charity and found the Restores which I knew would be a great place for me to start getting involved. 

Q: How did Oak Knoll School prepare you for your Capstone Project?

Oak Knoll prepared me for my Capstone Project by emphasizing the importance of community and service. Through Bridge runs,    service days, and Christmas outreach I have taken service opportunities that Oak Knoll has offered me and am excited to continue serving my community through my Capstone Project. Habitat for Humanity is an organization that runs on volunteers who are willing and eager to take time giving back to their community which has been further ingrained in me throughout my time at Oak Knoll.

Q: What is next for you after your graduation from Oak Knoll? What are your summer plans? (What university will you be attending this fall?) and (What will be your major?)

I hope that working at the Restore is just the first step of my involvement with Habitat for Humanity. This summer I want to continue my involvement in the charity and volunteer for one of their home building projects. This fall I will be attending Penn State University where I will start as undecided. I plan to continue my volunteer work in college with Penn State University’s Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter.


Riley Carr ’22
Nutritional health research project 

Q: What is your senior Capstone Project?

A: My senior Capstone is a research project in which I will create a nutritional health website for teenagers. I will be working closely with Dr. Melissa Maskery – Oak Knoll Assistant Athletic Director – for my research. My goal of the website is to be able to help others my age to understand and learn about the mental aspect of nutrition, along with the physical component.

Q: How & why did you become interested in this Capstone Project?

A: I have always been interested in this from a mental health perspective, as it is something I have personally struggled with in the past. I wanted to be able to present my research from a perspective that appears relatable and that others my age can understand. 

Q: How did Oak Knoll School prepare you for your Capstone Project?

A: I believe that Oak Knoll has prepared me for choosing my Capstone project by offering a variety of topics and subjects in various curriculums. I can remember learning about nutrition in one of my health classes and it definitely had some influence in my decision. 

Q: What’s next for you after your graduation from Oak Knoll? What are your summer plans? (What university will you be attending this fall?) and (What will be your major?)

A: While I have not yet figured out my summer plans, I am happy to be attending Loyola University of Maryland in the fall. I will be pursuing a major in Clinical Psychology and a minor in Health Professions and Related Programs.