When students think ahead toward the last few months of school, they think of things like freedom and summer and wearing shorts every day. Seniors look forward to graduation and preparing for college. The months of April and May bring many exciting privileges to look forward to, but for the seniors in the Gold Medallion program, April and the beginning of May bring forth Exhibitions and Judgement Fortnight.
The Gold Medallion Honors Program is a program offered in all of the high schools in the North Kansas City School District. The capstone of the program is a 45-minute research presentation on a topic of the student’s choice to be presented to a panel of experts on a designated date. Exhibitions begin April 16 and go through May 4 of this year. [CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILED SCHEDULE.] Exhibitions require months of research and hard work, making them no easy feat. The seniors preparing for their Exhibitions have to be determined and focused on the task ahead of them in order to complete their Exhibition.
Exhibitions cause the seniors working on them to be stressed because of all of the tasks they have to achieve. Along with completing research and putting together a presentation, the seniors in Gold Medallion have to contact professionals in their field of study to sit on their panel. They also have to figure out ways to incorporate their audience in their Exhibition to keep the audience entertained.
Seniors in the Gold Medallion program become stressed due to different parts of the program. Whether it be speaking in front of an audience or just putting together the actual Exhibition, every Gold Medallion senior becomes stressed for a different reason.
“Exhibitions are stressful because it’s the major Gold Medallion requirement. Without it, you don’t get the diploma,” said senior Evan Kinney.
Senior Delaney Hall said, “[Exhibitions] are stressful because of all the research and wanting it to look perfect.”
“Senioritis definitely takes a toll,” said senior Robbie Beck.
Whatever the reason for stress, the students working on their Exhibitions manage to help one another stay focused.
Helping one another through the program is a very valuable aspect. Yes, an Exhibition is presented by one student, but that student stays focused with the help of their fellow classmates and friends who are also in the Gold Medallion program.
“To help myself and other seniors stay strong, I try to give helpful advice to people to help strengthen their Exhibition. Meanwhile, I just try my hardest not to have a mental breakdown,” said Kinney.
“[I help myself and others stay strong] by giving pep talks and thinking positive,” said Hall.
Along with helping each other in class, the seniors in Gold Medallion have created a “Research Methods Support Group” on Facebook. Seniors in the group can post questions about assignments or even just give advice and encouragement on how to make it through the specific assignment that students are working on at the moment.
“The support group on Facebook really helps us stay focused. We also have Exhibition parties, where we work on our Exhibitions all together in a group at someone’s house,” said seniors Nicki Grant and Daniell Hernandez.
“To help myself stay calm, I just work through my Exhibition step by step,” said Beck.
Helping each other stay focused is a big deal for the Gold Medallion students because “we just kind of struggle through it together,” said senior Sam Riley.
Exhibitions are very important to the students in the Gold Medallion program, which is why they are so stressful. Exhibitions require lots of time, research, and perseverance, and no student wants to give up after coming so far. The seniors in the Gold Medallion program work hard to graduate with their diploma, just like every other hard-working student. Exhibitions are fast approaching, so if a student invites you to one, go! The seniors worked hard to put their Exhibition together and seeing support from their friends and fellow students will be encouraging for every single one of them.
