1. Welcome to today’s Enriching Experiences icebreaker
Welcome to today’s Enriching Experiences icebreaker. We’re going to take a few minutes to learn a little more about each other and a little more about one of the Enriching Experiences that you may have heard about as part of the UTEP Edge.

2. Capstone Experience: Definition
Culminate your undergraduate studies with an experience that prepares you for the next step by solidifying the academic knowledge and other educational experiences you have acquired. Examples include an honors thesis, senior paper or project, art performance or exhibition. They can be focused in your major or interdisciplinary.
Today we’re going to talk about Capstone Experiences. When I say “Capstone Experiences” as an Enriching or High Impact Experience – what do you think of?
[Get a couple of answers then go to next slide. If you are not getting response, ask follow up questions such as “In architecture, a capstone is one of the finishing stones that form the top of a wall or building. So in education, an capstone experience would be what?” Right, it’s something you do near the end of your academic career that pulls everything you’ve learned together. Think about your major, what kind of capstone experience would be helpful to your career?”
[When you click again, the definition will appear.]
Would you [select someone in class] read this aloud for us? Thanks. Anyone here know they have a capstone in their major? Working on one? Know anyone who has? What are they doing?

3. Capstone Experience: Today’s Objectives
Define Capstone Experience
Connect your talents to Capstone Experiences for Lifelong Success
Find Capstone Experiences for you at UTEP
Here’s what we want to accomplish in the next few minutes. Will you read the first one? Thanks. We’ve done that – defined Capstone Experiences. For how many of you is this a new idea?
Will you read the second one? Thanks.
So, start thinking about your talents, your strengths, your skills and how they contribute to you designing a capstone experience that will connect to your major and career goals. Who thinks they have good communication skills? Do you work well in a team? Are you confident? A good problem solver and critical thinker? All qualities that will combine to help you design and complete a meaningful capstone experience.
And, will you read number 3 for us? Thanks.

4. Capstone Experience: Activity
My Capstone
Get in groups of 3 – 5 and design a senior capstone experience in one of the following areas:
Product – written or three dimensional or …
Presentation – film or exhibition or …
Performance – lesson or artistic or …
Can be single major or interdisciplinary
How will it increase the rigor of your senior year? Increase your motivation, engagement, and career aspirations? Improve your confidence? Critical thinking?
OK, now for today’s activity. [Paraphrase the slide.]
[Give everyone a minute to get into their groups and start their capstone conversations. You will probably need to work the room to help groups get started on their conversation as this is an area unfamiliar to many students. Let it go on for 5 – 6 minutes or as long as there is good buzz in the room. When it starts to quiet down, call out “1 more minute”. ]
How was that? Did anyone have a particularly good example they want to share? [Talk in general about the questions in the last bullet on the slide.]

5. Capstone Experience: Wrap Up
Internship
Talk with your instructor, academic advisor, or campus employer about ideas for this experience.
Join a professional student club or organization
Check with the University Career Center or Center for Civic Engagement for opportunities.
Experience is the teacher of all things.
Julius Caesar
So, that’s an introduction to Capstone Experiences at UTEP. There are many ways to create a capstone experience that will contribute to your future success. Building on your past experiences, taking advantage of your talents and skills today and making good decisions for your capstone will to more opportunities tomorrow.
Thanks.