When 165 Trinity High School seniors walked out of the cafeteria, they were one giant step closer to their high school graduation.

Senior boards are a requirement for high school graduation. About half the senior population spent a semester doing a research paper, preparing a portfolio and presenting a product on their approved topic. On presentation night, held Dec. 10, seniors completed an eight-minute presentation for a panel of judges.

“No wonder they’re so excited,” said English teacher Erin Bass. “They’ve worked so hard.”

THS began the requirement of senior projects long before it became a state requirement.

The impact is communitywide, from mentors to judges, but the strongest impact is on the students themselves. Some studied a culture or history. Topics ranged from fly fishing to bullriding.

Chris Browning studied bullriding and even went to Macon, Ga. with Jeff Canter to watch a Southern Extreme Bullriding event. He hasn’t ridden a bull yet, but that’s next on his to-do list.

Rebecca Turner took a step backward in time to Colonial America. Dressed in a handmade period outfit, she worked with Guilford militia. She immersed herself in historial re-enactment by learning colonial skills such as fireplace cookery, embroidery and soapmaking.

Patrick Stemple studied various fly fishing techniques and learned how to tie his own flies using materials such as chenille and partridge feathers.

Leiha Scarboro worked alongside Lexington police to learn about crime scene investigation.

Here are snapshots of those seniors and a few others: