The week of December 2, seniors Marie and Nina Rutledge successfully defended their

Capstone project to a committee as the culmination of two years of work. While the twins

defended their work separately, they collaborated on an effort to bring a long-term composting

solution to the Tillman Center.

Marie’s portion of the project involved solving many of the logistical and educational

challenges. She worked with several composting facilities before finding one that was reasonably

priced; she then spent many hours meeting and coordinating with Tillman Center staff and school

administrators. When it became apparent that the project would require volunteers to staff it,

Marie and her mentor Dr. Anna Scott identified students and worked on arming them with

knowledge to be able to support the program. Marie also approached the Avants Family

Foundation for a grant to continue funding the program for the next decade, which she received on

behalf of the school earlier this year.

Nina’s area of expertise in this joint Capstone project was the scientific knowledge on

which the students’ educational program was based. Nina attended several conferences and

summer programs, including the Governors Honors Program in Chemistry and the Harvard

University Secondary School Program in Organic Chemistry. She studied per- and polyfluoroalkyl

substances (known as PFAS or “forever chemicals”) and how composting and biosorption are

possible solutions to the environmental damage they cause. With help from her mentor Bob Sears,

Nina learned that while gathering knowledge is important, the ability to then tell that story to others

and break it down for everyone to understand, is equally important.

The composting program at Athens Academy was launched in mid-September and has

been running consistently ever since. The private composting service Compostia empties the bin

once a week, after student volunteers have filled it following each lunch period. In the first month

alone, the project saved an estimated 729 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the

atmosphere. As they look to the future, Nina and Marie are confident that their program will only

continue to grow, thanks to their cadre of volunteers and funding from the Avants Family

Foundation.

In addition to contributing to the school community through the composting project, Marie

also created the guide, “Tell Me Something Good: A Step-by-Step Guide for the Self-Driven Student

Project.

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Congratulations to both Nina and Marie for their hard work and important contributions to

Athens Academy and the wider community!The Capstone Project is an opportunity for Upper School students to explore a passion via

four criteria: research, mentorship, experiential learning, and an outward contribution. Each

student submits a research paper detailing an aspect of the project, and they defend the project

before a committee of faculty and administrators, similar to a Ph.D. oral defense. Students whose

projects are approved by the committee receive the Capstone designation at commencement in

May.

Athens Academy is an independent, co-educational school for students in K3 through 12th

grade, located on a beautiful 152-acre campus in Northeast Georgia. Now in its 57th year, Athens

Academy pursues its mission of “excellence with honor” through academics, athletics, fine arts,

and service and leadership. Ranked the #1 private school in Athens, #9 college prep school in

the state of Georgia, and #1 private school in Northeast Georgia (Niche.com).

For more information, please contact Kelley Cuneo, communications director, at

[email protected] or 706-433-24