Sarah became a senior in high school this year and around here that means Graduation Project! It includes a long paper, a "product", lots of deadlines, and a presentation to community judges. It's to "be a stretch"-- something you haven't done. Sarah chose the "Science of Sourdough Bread" and her wonderful mentor was chemistry professor Vicki Collins at Warren Wilson College (see in photos below). It was a process that started in the summer and ended in December. (And her parents nobly volunteered to be tasters all along the journey!) Here she is giving the presentation:

Below Sarah tests the PH of three different starters. Our fridge was full of these big
measuring cups all summer and fall! And on the right, Sarah with Dr. Vicki Collins.

Community service is a component of the Graduation Project. Sarah fulfilled hers for most of the summer at the Black Mountain Welcome Table, where they would feed over 200 community folks every Wednesday, with prep day on Tuesday. She made great friends with all the staff and volunteers.

Sarah was into Washington, DC big-time this year, first with friend, Laine, to President Obama's 2nd Inauguration (also visiting the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial and even coming upon the Daily Show's John Oliver doing his thing):

And in August for the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech:

Hey, can you recognize everyone in the photo on the right? The President hugging Rep. John Lewis who just finished speaking; then Caroline Kennedy, Michelle Obama, Oprah(back), President Clinton, Linda Bird Johnson (back), President Carter, Ambassador Andrew Young, and, I believe, Bernice King. Now THAT's a podium! And we couldn't even see what we were taking and only discovered it when we enlarged it.

Oh, and how could we forget the right-of-passage for teens, the prom
(with younger sisters helping get them ready, Aubrey on left did hair and obviously loves the result!)

By comparison, the parents look a bit shabby, but Sarah and Ian, WOW!! Grown-ups for sure!

Sarah continues to love Owen High sports whether it's indoor or outdoor soccer or swimming. And we parents are fortunate and appreciative of Laine's father, Ken, for the professional-level photos--treasures for life!

Above a lesson in how to break loose and go for the net! And below Sarah's indoor soccer team that been playing together under great and much-appreciated coaches, Jay & Jen Dale, since the seventh grade.

And the Owen swim team continues to be a place of fun and competition. Here Sarah with relay-mate and friend Clair and below ready to start a race...note the attentive Mom and her excellent Coach, Kate Dost, on the left!

In addition to Washington, Sarah got involved in Raleigh and the NC NAACP Moral Monday protests over legislation affecting voting, women's health, education, and, well, everything else. Here she is outside a church where civil disobedience volunteers were trained. Behind her is the amazing Rev.Dr. William J. Barber, head of the NC NAACP. Then she is waving (to her future constituents?) from the top of the NC Legislature. And with two of her teachers, Ms. Hollifield and Ms Rookey...both Teachers of the Year:

Sarah was co-editor of the Hoofbeat newspaper at school, here with some of her colleagues and their advisor, Ms. Hollifield. She also celebrated her big 18th birthday! And she celebrated her buddy-since-preschool Bobby as he graduated and headed off to Chapel Hill. This photo taken the first day of kindergarten when Sarah stopped by his house on the way to school to share her excitement!

And through it all, back home, Sarah loves her cats and wishes everyone a Happy New Year.
This one, Stache, short for Moustache!

Oh, and we completely left out Sarah's "college search" -- Stay Tuned!

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