IP10: A Year of Curiosity, Creation, and Impact

NIndependent Projects 10, known throughout the Grace community as IP10,

is a cornerstone of the high school experience. Each sophomore spends the majority of their second high school year pursuing a research project entirely of their own choosing, culminating in an evening where students present their work and discoveries to the community. As IP10 facilitator Jason McDonald described it, the program embodies Grace’s pedagogy of joy, love of learning, a strong foundation of knowledge, and a sense of purpose. This year’s cohort did not disappoint.

The breadth and ambition of the projects on display each year is striking. Archibald A. laid the groundwork to launch a nonprofit to build budget PCs for people who cannot afford prebuilt computers, charging only the cost of parts. Peyton D. organized five clothing drives across downtown schools, collecting nearly 800 pounds of donations for Xavier Mission. Chaya M. designed a 3D model with targeted barriers and chemical compounds to protect coral reefs from the bleaching caused by UV radiation and ocean warming. Cole H. F. founded the Spinback Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to rebuilding underfunded NYC public school music programs. Georges L. built an interactive map visualizing book bans across the United States, state by state, with tools for users to contact their local lawmakers directly.

Other projects turned inward, or upward. Sander O., drawing on his own experience as a pediatric cancer survivor, developed a proposal for a reimagined pediatric oncology institution. Vienna V. created a prototype app to expose harmful PFAS chemicals hidden in everyday cosmetics. Evelyn B. produced a photography book featuring shelter animals to raise awareness about the crisis of overcrowding in American animal shelters. And Fin F., fresh off his State Debate Championship, traced the history of political speech from Aristotle to Obama, exploring how rhetoric has shaped the arc of history.

These are just a few of the dozens of projects that filled the halls on IP10 night, each one a testament to what happens when students are empowered and supported in following their curiosity, wherever it leads.