NSU University School VIEWPOINT Spring 2019

UPPER SCHOOL 14 Fernanda Furszyfer is studying dessert traditions and baking techniques from around the world. She currently works at a local bakery, yet will expand her capstone research to include bakeries throughout South Florida to learn a variety of baking techniques. Fernanda plans to write a recipe book with all original baking recipes and photographs of her desserts. In the process, she has also explored marketing and publishing options. She aims to sell her baked goods and donate the profits to a local homeless shelter. Julia Musso is focusing her capstone project on training, choreographing, and planning a marketing strategy for an indoor cycling ride that she will lead. She has worked at a local cycling studio for the past year and a half, and it provides her with an outlet to de-stress and grow stronger physically and mentally. The studio’s supportive environment offers Julia and others a home within the fitness community. Friends, family, and fellow riders plan to support Julia and fill all 50 available bikes. It is sure to be a full house and a Capstone Ride to remember! Lilly Gitlitz is organizing and producing a live concert of original music. Her capstone project includes creating the set list, running rehearsals, improving performance strategies, creating lighting charts, as well as marketing and advertising the concert. Lilly will be donating the proceeds from her concert to breast cancer research. “All my life, I have been writing music and have always dreamed of putting on a concert of my original music,” she said. “I believe music is an avenue to bring people together, and I want to share my music with people I love. I also I want to strengthen my skills in the technical and leadership aspects of putting on a performance.” Michael Gonzalez is researching the process of learning languages from linguistic and social perspectives and applying that knowledge to his mentorship of students with learning differences. He recently attended the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in New York with World Languages Department Chair, Ana Cristina Ruiz Ramirez, J.D. and classmates. Michael took part in workshops, including Dyslexia and the Foreign Language Learner, the Immigrant Experience Through Latin Music, and a workshop on Preparing High School Students for the Seal of Biliteracy. Michael looks forward to sharing what he’s learned with our Student Academic Support Services team. Aysha Zackria believes now, more than ever, that everyone must do their part to preserve the planet for future generations. Her capstone project aims to create a sustainable beehive that bees will actually prefer over one they would create for themselves. “My goal is to move the hive to my house, so my neighborhood can benefit from bees’ awesome pollinating powers,” she said. Environmental science has always been very important to Aysha. She led a presentation for the sixth grade science students, discussing how bees are essential to most foods we eat and the problem of colony collapse disorder. She emphasizes that by helping bees, we can learn about and preserve our own food chain. Aysha was mentored by Venkatesh Shangbhag, Ph.D., NSU professor of Chemistry and Physics. Sabrina Zeitoune is researching certain breeds of dogs that are commonly used as work dogs. Her capstone thesis is that these particular breeds do not make ideal pets because they are wired to better serve in a working relationship. Sabrina will be acquiring data on working dogs’ focus, drive, and other characteristics. As an avid dog lover, she recognizes that canines are humans’ most successful animal partner, but aims to inform the public that working dogs, in particular, might not be ideal members of the family. “I want to learnmore about thesemagnificent animals that put their lives on the line for us for nothing more than some praise and playtime in return,” she said. Sabrina plans to share this information through a vlog (or “dogumentary”) to educate, inspire, motivate, and entertain audiences.