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LAUNCH is an Episcopal Upper School showcase started by a small group of students in 2014. This full day, TEDx-style event features the talents, research and innovations of tomorrow’s leaders.

LAUNCH was the brainchild of the 2014 Honors Thesis graduates, who aspired to create an event to celebrate each other’s achievements in a supportive, encouraging environment.  The success of that first event has led to subsequent years of continued growth and expansion. Each year, LAUNCH highlights not only the research and work of the Honor Thesis students, but also the talents and gifts of the entire Upper School.

LAUNCH is truly the celebration of many things--a child’s promise, a parent’s inspiration, and an Episcopal student’s ambition.

We invite you to watch the videos below featuring LAUNCH day student presentations.  Check back often as additional videos will be uploaded soon.

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2018 LAUNCH Presentation

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The Argument for Taking Risks: A New Approach to Adolescent Risk Taking.
Charles Barksdale has a message directly for you, for us -- a group of teenagers in the midst of navigating this murky period of time between childhood and adulthood. Charles will demonstrate in real time, actually, how we can push the envelope of our own comfort level when we’re surrounded by a supportive community--how these experiences, actually, are necessary for our growth and development.

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Imagine the Possibilities: How the Development of the Imagination Fosters Intellectual Growth in the Human Species
Emily Knight's project explores the role imagination and subjective thinking have on social progress. In a time of polarized viewpoints and often less-than-civil discourse, Emily’s message is both timely and timeless: by embracing our different approaches to challenges and tasks, we are better equipped to innovate and imagine; by rejecting the fear of the unknown or others who are different, we are more likely to embrace the sort of change that launches us into a more just and forward-thinking world. 

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Dreaming of Sleep: The Impact of Stress on Teenager's Lives
Mary Caroline’s Thesis journey motivated a lot of her own personal growth. Her talk is as much a call for improving things as it is an honest reflection on the life of the modern high-achieving teenager. She’s learned a lot about stress and sleep, but she’s also learned a lot about herself in context of those around her. What she shares should carry a lot of weight then for parents, teachers, and students today. 

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A Cycle of Gendered Learning: Analyzing Gender Role Development through Education, Media, and Play
A greater risk-taker than she’d give herself credit for, Mary Brandon Harrell hopes to shed light on a single aspect that arose from her Thesis on early childhood and gender. She starts with a natural curiosity and ultimately demonstrates how narrow our understanding of something as simple as “toys” can be.​

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 Making Atonality Accessible to Modern Audiences
Kenny Schafer will welcome us into LAUNCH by doing what Kenny does best: a lot of things at once and all pretty excellently. First, a performance of Kenny’s original composition, “Dance of the Fairies.” The dance is also choreographed by Lauren Reed. After the performance, you’ll hear from Kenny as he discusses his thesis, involving the accessibility of atonal music which influenced this composition. 

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The Blue Mind in a Grey World: 
A Study Examining the Application of Aquatic Elements, Landscapes, and Therapeutic Outlets to Increase Happiness, Mood Stability, and Economic Prosperity
Elliott Kellam's fascination and passion for his Thesis has been driven by his almost limitless enthusiasm. His profound appreciation and intellectual curiosity is for a singular element that surrounds us, influences us, and inspires us. But also might be one we take for granted: water. From evolutionary psychology and landscape architecture to art history and philosophy, Elliott’s thesis is ambitiously interdisciplinary. 

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Deindividuation in Government: An Analysis of the Lack of Awareness of the Sacrifice of Individualism in Favor of Societal Cohesion in American Politics
Sydney Veazie's study of group think intersects with many disciplines--sociology, psychology, and even politics. What’s so exciting about Sydney’s talk today is that she transforms her thesis, which primarily looks at group dynamics when it comes to government and politics and applies it to everyday situations and to our own teenage lives.

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 It Girls takeover the I.T. World: a Momentous Marketing Strategy Utilizing the Power of Social Media
Louise Andreeff's work as both a rising entrepreneur and leader is reflected in her Thesis journey. From a natural fascination with social media influencers, Louise’s discoveries have led her through the history of celebrity culture, through marketing studies, and into nonprofit marketing and directing. Her work, like her subject, is influential. She is currently the marketing director of a small, local business, and she is also arising leader in the region, focused on female empowerment. 

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Behavioral Economics and Marketing Theory 
Caroline Crawford's Thesis journey has been true to her personality--filled with personality, charm, curiosity, and optimism. Because of her interest in marketing design and influence, Caroline was inspired to explore elements of behavioral economics. But most impressive is how she makes this concept practical for her audience, inspiring all of us to notice both what influences us and what power we have to influence as well. 
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Religion as a Catalyst for Political Mobilization: Where is the constitutional line drawn?
Erin Alpandinar will share her thoughts with you in a slightly unconventional way, but in a format you’re probably have seen a lot of in the build up to the 2016 presidential election. Erin’s thesis merges two topics that some are uncomfortable discussing together: religion and politics, but she moves past the taboo on her quest to understand this relationship and constitutionality of various practices.