Seniors at Geneva School of Boerne write and defend a thesis as the last step toward graduation. The senior thesis is a dissertation in which the student advances an original point of view, typically on a controversial topic. Seniors begin the academic year by selecting a topic with help from their faculty adviser. Topics are then researched and a final draft is submitted before the student prepares for the oral presentation.
The first part of the thesis presentation is an eloquent 20-minute speech delivered from memory. The speech is delivered before three panelists, schoolmates, parents, faculty members and guests. Upon completion of the oral presentation, the invited panelists, conversant in the thesis topic, question the student on points that have been raised. The student demonstrates competency in fielding the questions by “thinking on his feet.”
This year, the 55 seniors presented and defended their theses and Austin Malkowski (above), son of Jessica and Richard Malkowski of Boerne, was recognized as the 2023 winner of the G.K. Chesterton Award for the best overall senior thesis presentation for her thesis titled, “America’s Power Trip: The Mistreatment of American Drug Addiction.” Other G.K. Chesterton Finalists were Mattie Sue Arnold, Ava Ayers, Abby Bower, Sloane Burkholder, Avery Eggerss, Claire Erfurt, Juliana Flores, Hailey Hubenak, Austin Malkowski, Elle Nicholson, George Viña and Mia Wilson.
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