By Chris Moffitt and Francesca De Luca

After months of mud, sweat, and tears, along with early mornings and late nights, TPA’s most recent graduates have completed their Senior Project. This task consisted of transforming the old swimming pool of the Teacher’s House into a beautiful garden with a gazebo, with a new pathway running elegantly through.

This project did not come without challenges. The graduates had to completely remove the old swimming pool and fix the dripper system. But the most challenging part of the project, according to Sara Prokop, was “setting up an organized plan to get it done. Time, money, [and] people’s efforts” needed to be taken into consideration, she added.

Even with these obstacles, there was one thing that kept the graduates going – one idea, one hope, and one person that kept them working hard and cheerfully throughout. This motivation was Rachel Ewer, a dearly loved student of the Class of 2012 who passed away her junior year. This Senior Project was tenderly dedicated to her.

Speaking for the Class of 2012, Sara explains why they built Rachel this garden. “She loved gardens with pretty flowers, and loved being happy and making people feel happy and included,” she said. “So by building a garden, we built something she loved and a place where people can go to be peaceful under the shade;… hopefully it’ll make the community smile a bit more when they see the garden built by the senior class that remembers the memories they had with Rachel Ewer.”

The Class of 2012 succeeded in its project and especially touched Rachel’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. Ewer wrote moving words thanking these graduates for their efforts. “We wanted to convey to you how completely overwhelmed we were by the Class of 2012’s gift of Rachel’s Garden. We feel personally to be the recipients, as well as the school. The amount of thought, planning, dedication and work that we know went into such an accomplishment is mindboggling.

“We look forward to visiting the garden often,” they continued, “and to bringing family and friends to see such a beautiful token of love, and the physical realization of Truth, Beauty and Goodness that these TPA graduates have shown.”

Certainly, as Adam Moffitt says, “The bar has been raised for Senior Projects. Let’s see what you’ve got, Class of 2013!”