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 and includes talks from students in distinctive programs like ESTAAR, AP Studio Art, and Thesis.
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 the talents and gifts of the entire Upper School.
The day represents learning in its purest form as students share projects that are inspired by their genuine curiosity and passion and motivated by the public presentation of their work, rather than a grade or test. Students learn the art and craft of public speaking, paying special attention to their audience in order to create a message meant to impact, teach and inspire their peers.
We invite you to watch the videos and read the summaries below featuring LAUNCH day student presentations. Check back often as additional videos will be uploaded soon.
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 the talents and gifts of the entire Upper School.
The day represents learning in its purest form as students share projects that are inspired by their genuine curiosity and passion and motivated by the public presentation of their work, rather than a grade or test. Students learn the art and craft of public speaking, paying special attention to their audience in order to create a message meant to impact, teach and inspire their peers.
We invite you to watch the videos and read the summaries below featuring LAUNCH day student presentations. Check back often as additional videos will be uploaded soon.
Butterflies by Katie Knight. Graphic by Saad Ali.
2021 LAUNCH Recap
LAUNCH 2021: The butterfly teaches us that launching into something new doesn’t necessarily have to be explosive or loud. Even in the midst of chaos and difficulty, our students have emerged whole, steadfast, and brilliant. Together, our release into flight creates something beautiful in our world, gives us hope, and calls us to be both fierce and gentle, bold and soft, powerful and inclusive. -- Katie Sutcliffe, Thesis Director
Despite all odds, LAUNCH 2021 went on and achieved its mission of giving student voices a platform to share and celebrate learning. This compilation of articles allows students to reflect on this transformative experience!
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Photos by Dianne Madden
Full-Circle Moment: Nina Jalenak '17
Nina Jalenak ‘17 played a key role in the branding and art for LAUNCH when she was a senior at Episcopal. Four years later as she approaches college graduation with a degree in Graphic Design from LSU, Nina provided an original piece for LAUNCH 2021. She reflects on how far she has come in her years since creating the 2017 LAUNCH logo and what it means to her to return with this vibrant butterfly.
Last week I had the privilege to return to Episcopal for their annual presentations, a.k.a. LAUNCH! Although I was not a Thesis student, LAUNCH was still very special to me. LAUNCH Fest 2017 was my first “branding” opportunity (shoutout to my partner, Emma Scott Singletary) and one of the reasons I decided to study Graphic Design in college.
As an artist and a student, I made it a priority to stay inspired by creating art outside of my studio classes. I made my first butterfly (a symbol of growth and positive change) in 2018 and now I’ve made around 30! I was thrilled to find out that this year’s LAUNCH logo, designed by Katie Knight, was a butterfly! It was an honor to have one of my butterflies on display during the day. I am forever grateful for the people at Episcopal who encouraged me and continue to encourage others.
Last week I had the privilege to return to Episcopal for their annual presentations, a.k.a. LAUNCH! Although I was not a Thesis student, LAUNCH was still very special to me. LAUNCH Fest 2017 was my first “branding” opportunity (shoutout to my partner, Emma Scott Singletary) and one of the reasons I decided to study Graphic Design in college.
As an artist and a student, I made it a priority to stay inspired by creating art outside of my studio classes. I made my first butterfly (a symbol of growth and positive change) in 2018 and now I’ve made around 30! I was thrilled to find out that this year’s LAUNCH logo, designed by Katie Knight, was a butterfly! It was an honor to have one of my butterflies on display during the day. I am forever grateful for the people at Episcopal who encouraged me and continue to encourage others.
2021 LAUNCH Reflections
Students who present during LAUNCH often share that the experience is a highlight of their academic life at Episcopal. Many surprise themselves with the public speaking skills they gain and the public presenter persona they cultivate with the help of their teacher and classmates. This year, the feelings of accomplishment are no different and are, perhaps, a bit sweeter since in-person LAUNCH was never a guarantee. Enjoy excerpts from their LAUNCH reflections to learn what the experience means to them. Presenter photos provided by Zoe Marceaux.
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I consider LAUNCH my best and proudest achievement. I am incredibly proud of myself for taking a risk and conquering a challenge that big. -- Allen Stewart
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Looking back on this whole experience, it is something I will never forget or regret. I know I say this a lot, but I am able to see my personal growth. Before the Thesis program, I was scared to talk about my race and experiences. Now, I just gave a presentation on this topic to the entire school. That is what personal growth is. I have become comfortable with myself, and I will keep this experience for the rest of my life. -- Ellie Sim
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As I was saying my final words to the audience, I could feel the weight of them. I could feel how powerful they were. Then, I finished. Just like that, I was done with my first presentation and I was elated. I did not even look at the audience. I heard them stand and cheer and clap. I walked off the stage and before I could get off I started stupidly smiling. And I couldn’t stop. I was proud of my classmates, my supporters, but most importantly, of myself. I couldn’t believe I finally fulfilled my promise to myself. I did it and I did it well. In retrospect, it seems silly that I was so scared. Now that I have done it before, I know I have the ability to do it again. But the point is that I used to not know if I could do it. I didn’t know if I would blank and forget everything I had to say. LAUNCH allowed me to discover that part of myself. LAUNCH helped me realize that I could do it. -- Katherine Scarton
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I watched my sister go through the LAUNCH process--from script-writing to constant practicing to finally giving the presentation--when I was twelve years old. Six years later, I stood backstage minutes before my presentation recalling the awe and wonder I felt watching young people give powerful presentations and being taken seriously. Practicing a dozen times in front of my mirror, I watched my eyes shine and darken with the cadences of my sentences. I brought this energy into my presentation and so many people told me, “You sounded so you!” I’m thrilled that my voice carried through, and I really think that maybe a few more kids listened to my message. -- Allison Binning
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One particularly memorable moment from my third presentation is when I ad-libbed a line I had never said or even thought of before. This tripped me up a little bit, but I was able to find my way back on track. Even though I messed up this part a bit, overall I’m happy with how my final presentation went. As I told another presenter after he was feeling disappointed about messing up, the beauty of live performances is that they’re never the same every time. And different doesn’t mean bad, it just means different. -- Madi Bell
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Walking into the Thesis program I knew that I would someday face a massive presentation in front of hundreds of my peers and leaders. And, I will be perfectly honest, this thought simmered in the back of my mind, plaguing my thoughts for probably two years straight. I was absolutely terrified! I am not a natural public speaker; talking and thinking simultaneously is not one of my strong suits. However surprisingly, as the days leading up to LAUNCH decreased, so did my anxiety and worry. Now at first glance this seems like some sort of miracle. I am probably one of the most self-inducing nervous nellies you will ever meet, so it was quite honestly shocking to find myself in such a state of calm right before this huge life event. I could choose to blame this stroke of luck on the ever-changing waves of the universe; however, I am quite certain this miracle has more so to do with the preparation instilled in me by my teacher, Mrs. Sutcliffe. The more I practiced, the less nervous I got, which in turn resulted in an excitement for LAUNCH that I never before dreamed possible. I could blame this stroke of LAUNCH day confidence on a miracle, which is what I would have hoped for just a few short months ago, but I am now certain that my self-confidence and excitement stem directly from Mrs. Sutcliffe and her continued support in my presentation preparation. -- Grace Scott
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As I reflect on Thesis now, I can say with confidence that this is my favorite group of people. We all appreciate each other, treat each other with respect, and support each other. I’ve never been so happy to be a part of something in my life. -- Grace Moraes
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Just as the butterfly, I felt myself metamorphosize into the person I’d always dreamed of becoming, as LAUNCH marked the day when I realized such a prevalent change in myself. -- Mollie Hyde
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LAUNCH is not something one can do and walk away the same. A group of people cannot do LAUNCH and not be connected. They are bound to each other by the incredible fact that they did that, and they did it together. -- Addi LeBouef
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I’m glad that people seemed to understand my message. Throughout this process, many people have told me that I was being vulnerable and open and all kinds of similar things by presenting my information in this way. But I don’t think I’ve ever thought of it like that. For me, I just had something that I really wanted to say. Something that I really wanted people to know. And if telling my story first was the way that people would genuinely listen to what I had to tell them, then I’m happy I told it. I just really wanted to let people know that it’s okay to just be who you are, especially those who have gone/are going through something similar to my experience. Someone came up to me afterward and told me, “I’m glad to know I’m not the only one.” And that legitimately made me feel good. -- Bethany Reid
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Presenting was a special feeling. I had practiced my speech hundreds of times, but the first time I presented I felt a new passion in the words. I remember embracing the persona of a politician at the moment as I looked across at my classmates, teachers, family, and athletic complex. The experience felt extraordinary and I believe it is one that will always stick with me in my life. -- Adam Azmeh
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LAUNCH 2021 Showcase
By Lisa Pritchard
Like many other Episcopal events that have had to shift and adjust this year, the 2021 LAUNCH showcase of student projects had to revisit its traditional format in order to allow for smaller, socially-distanced groups to enjoy the experience.
In an effort to allow students who had worked so hard on their various projects an opportunity to still showcase their work thoroughly, the idea for a virtual showcase was born. In addition to the in-person, thirty-minute library tour, various advisory groups were given access to a website via a QR code. This virtual showcase houses not only preliminary information on these projects, but also provides the chance for visitors to take a deeper dive into the process that students went through to create their work and other resources that they chose to provide. A positive bonus of this virtual space has been that students now have an archive of their project and can share it whenever they wish.
To make the experience even more immersive, the website is structured as a virtual space and laid out in the same way the showcase was at the library on the day of LAUNCH. A viewer can enter the library through the front door, choose which floor to tour, climb the stairs, and explore each area where projects are displayed, just as they would in person.
Projects include:
We hope you will also explore all of these projects and interact with them at home as part of this new LAUNCH tradition.
Like many other Episcopal events that have had to shift and adjust this year, the 2021 LAUNCH showcase of student projects had to revisit its traditional format in order to allow for smaller, socially-distanced groups to enjoy the experience.
In an effort to allow students who had worked so hard on their various projects an opportunity to still showcase their work thoroughly, the idea for a virtual showcase was born. In addition to the in-person, thirty-minute library tour, various advisory groups were given access to a website via a QR code. This virtual showcase houses not only preliminary information on these projects, but also provides the chance for visitors to take a deeper dive into the process that students went through to create their work and other resources that they chose to provide. A positive bonus of this virtual space has been that students now have an archive of their project and can share it whenever they wish.
To make the experience even more immersive, the website is structured as a virtual space and laid out in the same way the showcase was at the library on the day of LAUNCH. A viewer can enter the library through the front door, choose which floor to tour, climb the stairs, and explore each area where projects are displayed, just as they would in person.
Projects include:
- A rehearsal of the after-school play Rumors.
- Both a showing of the Thesis Seminar video of “Project 55” and an opportunity to be interviewed for the project.
- A display of various Javascript applications that the Computer Science Class developed.
- A presentation from students in the Economics for Entrepreneurs class.
- A documentary about the communication of beauty from Sociology.
- Various Engineering projects, including a model of a self-sustainable, COVID safe home.
- Honors World History posters and projects.
- A Year in Photos collection by the Media Arts class and Accolade staff.
- A collection of food stories and an opportunity to share your own food memories by the Cultural and Societal Influences of Food Design Studio.
We hope you will also explore all of these projects and interact with them at home as part of this new LAUNCH tradition.
2020 LAUNCH Presentations
To view presentations from LAUNCH 2020, click here.
2019 LAUNCH Presentations
To view presentations from LAUNCH 2019, click here.