Each spring, students in Class VIII engage in a capstone project dedicated to a lesser known but important American historical figure, for whom they design an original memorial in their honor. This project is rooted in themes of legacy, innovation, and artistry, and merges historical thinking, research, and key lessons from the class' trip to Alabama earlier this year.

In May, after weeks of careful thought and design, the project culminated with all students presenting their research and designs to their class, after which four finalists were selected by their history teachers and other judges. These four finalists then presented their proposals to the entire Middle School, and a winning design was chosen: Leta Stetter Hollingworth, by Isa M. '30.

Leta Stetter Hollingworth was a pioneering 20th-century American psychologist and educator who made foundational contributions to the study of gifted children and advanced the psychology of women by scientifically challenging myths of female intellectual inferiority.

"Memorials preserve memory and legacy; help us learn about history; cause us to feel and reflect; and ask us to consider the following questions: Whose stories do we remember? And whose stories do we forget?" Co-chair of the History Department Angela Hines explained. "Isa’s design reflected a deep appreciation for Hollingworth’s philosophy, and was an outstanding and original approach to memorialization."