SR senior landscapes courtyard
Jennifer Rogers - Intern Writer

According to custodians, the South Ripley High School courtyard hasn't been touched in thirteen years. Senior, Kelly Bolt has taken on the task of landscaping the courtyard as her senior project.

At South Ripley, all seniors are required to complete a senior project prior to graduation. Requirements for the 2006 seniors include spending ten hours working with a mentor on a project of the students' choosing, write a research paper loosely related to the project, do a ten minute presentation on the project, and create a memory book. Students must deliver a perspective to the Senior Board and answer a few questions in order to have their project approved.

Senior Board members this year are Nancy Durham, Karen Hafft, Ed Newman, Donna Perry, Kelly Sparks, and Melissa Wilhoit. Some of board members will be attending the High Schools that Work conference during the summer to get more ideas about how senior projects are done in other schools.

Durham said, "Some of the kids have done very nice projects." A few of the past types of projects include building a floating dock, building a book case, doing taxidermy, learning about firearms, learning sign language, learning how to decorate a cake, and many other various types of projects. "Some of the projects have even been career-changing for the students," she commented.

Bolt got the idea for her project at the end of last school year from biology teacher Steve Comer. She was excited about the chance to do her own thing with a space. Before she could start working on the project she met with the Senior Board to discuss her idea and get their approval. She then selected South Ripley custodian, Danny Ketchum to be her mentor.

So far, Bolt has worked with Ketchum in the courtyard for four hours, but has also put in many hours of work on her own. She goes to the school daily during the week to work on planting new flowers or trees, and to water everything in the courtyard. When asked why she chose this project and why she is working so hard, she said "I'm doing it for the glory of God."

Bolt has pulled all the weeds from the gravel, taken the ivy off the brick area, pulled out dead bushes, worked up the dirt around the grassy area, weed-eated the whole area, and trimmed the hedges. She has planted new trees, bushes, and mostly perennials, so even when she graduates they will keep coming back. Her favorite flower that she has planted in the courtyard is the Peace rose.

In order to buy the plants, she has spent her own money along with some donations she has received from friends, family, and custodians. Some of her future plans for the project include planting flowers in a circle around the grassy area, planting wildflowers that will spell SR between the hedges, painting the outside rims, and possibly putting in a fountain.

Bolt says the project has "been really fun, but it's hard work. After all my work, I hope the students will be able to use it more now."

During her work on the project she has been taking pictures and videotaping the area before she started working, and periodically along the way. By the end of the year she will have pictures documenting the whole project to include in her presentation. If the weather in the spring is good, and the teachers will allow it, she would like to give her presentation outside in the courtyard so she can show exactly what she has done to the area.

During high school, Bolt has been a member of the Young Confederates, the French Club, the Academic Team, and she is also member of the Puppet Team for the Hopewell Baptist Church. She is planning to attend Grace College in Indiana to major in Biblical Studies and Sign Language.

"I'm looking forward to graduation and to seeing all the flowers fully in bloom next summer," Bolt commented.

Bolt is the daughter of Tim and Bonnie Bolt of Holton.

JENNIFER ROGERS PHOTO

Kelly Bolt stands beside some of her creations as she begins her landscaping project at the courtyard at South Ripley High School.