Pal-Mac Students Showcase Creativity, Community Service at Annual Project Event
From musical performances to fundraising efforts, students at Palmyra-Macedon (Pal-Mac) High School presented a diverse array of projects at this year’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) Personal Project Showcase.
The annual event is the culmination of months of planning and years of learning. Each participating student selected a personal area of interest, whether mastering a new skill, engaging in community service, or creating something from scratch.
Among those featured was Rhett Engels, who built a cajon, a box-shaped percussion instrument originating from Peru. "It took some time, but it’s been fun," Engels said of his project.
Dylan Becker focused on music as well, learning to play all four major saxophones—soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone—while also working on advanced saxophone techniques. As part of her project, Becker performed songs on each instrument and evaluated her progress using a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) grading rubric. "My goal was to score above 80 on all parts, which I did," she said.
Other students explored digital platforms, launching TikTok and YouTube channels, while some focused on engineering and technology, such as JJ Tome, who built an automatic tennis ball launcher while researching safety considerations in its construction.
Community-Focused Projects
For several students, the showcase provided an opportunity to give back to their communities.
Annabelle Grant raised approximately $600 for the enCourage Kids Foundation, a New York City-based nonprofit supporting hospitalized children. She used the funds to purchase toys, which she personally delivered to the organization—her first trip to the city.
"The feeling of giving back and knowing that I am helping somebody, especially kids in need, is the best feeling," Grant said.
Similarly, Lily Cooley organized a stuffed animal drive for the Society for the Protection and Care of Children (SPCC) of Rochester, which assists children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Her effort, which began in October, collected about 80 stuffed animals, which she delivered to the organization in December. "It’s something small, but it has a big impact on them," Cooley said.
The Project Process
Pal-Mac students begin working on their projects in the spring of their freshman year, developing a plan that includes:
Learning Goal – Identifying an area of interest to explore.
Product or Outcome – Creating a tangible item, organizing an event, or producing a creative work.
Report – Documenting the research and development process, either through a written, oral, or visual report.
For Amelia West, this process involved launching a donation campaign for the Second Hand Dog Rescue in Rochester, which included learning about promotional strategies to encourage community participation.
The showcase highlighted the creativity and dedication of Pal-Mac students as they combined academic learning with real-world applications, demonstrating a wide range of interests and talents.