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“It can be as small as the schools and it can be global,” IB Cast Coordinator Matthew Rudy said of the projects. “It definitely is Springfield and trying to improve the situation here and volunteering is part of it.”
He hopes the International Baccalaureate program will expand and encourages incoming students to consider enrolling. It’s a rigorous international certificate program where high school students can earn college credit, similar to Advancement Placement courses.
It’s been around since 2008, Rudy said, but colleges now want to see students challenge themselves and graduate with the distinction more than ever.
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“It’s something that helps students really raise their profile and become an ideal candidate for college,” Rudy said. “I think this is something that can bring students into Springfield City Schools. We provide this as an area that you can grow as a student. They are college level and challenging courses. And there is something that can really drive you to the next level.”
Senior Kenzie Dowan started in the program when she was a junior and decided to finish this year. The courses are harder, she said, but it has helped her get ready for life after high school.
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“I have already finished all my math courses so I am ready for math in college and I take IB biology, which is what I want to major in for college so it’s really helping me get the college perspective for classes already,” she said.
Also participating in the program this year are Kingston Perkins, Caitlin Wilson, Amy Liu, Grace Yandergrift, Jasmine Ownes, Austin Tyree and Bella Gianakopoulos.
The students said the capstone projects they’re working on help them learn the importance of being organized and not procrastinating. They encourage other students to try IB classes, however, warned that it’s a lot of work.
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