Upper School students presented in-depth projects this week to judges, faculty, and other students, showcasing their learning in Economics and AP Statistics.
In Andy Hostetler’s AP Statistics class, students are learning topics of probability by exploring different variables and how they are connected to careers: what unemployment looks like across education levels, what types of jobs are most prominent among younger (or older) workers, and how income varies across the United States based on several factors. Students chose a specific occupation to research and create a profile to share with younger students. Students reported on entry-level pay, projected job growth, job training opportunities, or anything else they found relevant. Posters, slide presentations, charts, and graphs all provided a visual reference.
Juniors and seniors in Perry Walthour’s Economics classes presented their redevelopment vision to a fictitious city council made up of Urban Land Institute (ULI) volunteers. The ULI volunteers selected “The Eagle Planners” team (Evan Tuttle: Marketing Director; Franco Rugna: Financial Analyst; Liam D’Arienzo: Site Planner; Drew Hartigan: Environment and Equity Director; and Abby Brown: Neighborhood Liaison) as the winner of the event.
UrbanPlan is a hands-on, 15-hour course that was created by Urban Land Institute (ULI) to teach high school and college students how the built environment is shaped through planning and development. Students work in development teams to analyze and respond to a hypothetical Request for Proposal for the redevelopment of a specific urban area. Through the program, students explore how the forces of a market economy work with and against non-market forces in a democracy to create the environment in which they live. In completing their plans, the students must consider economic, social, cultural and political goals of the fictional city and its residents. Some of the items they will have to consider are zoning and design regulations, market demand for different types of land uses and real estate products, traffic patterns, quality of life and the needs of investors and lenders providing the capital for the project.