Turtle Power Grant Recipients

n many respects, today’s high schools mirror our data-driven world; the focus is on results, a high stakes, pressure-filled environment where test scores are king. documenting their ocean journey through the use of a GoPro attached to an autonomous underwater vehicle that follows their movements. And then the fun began. Students were given free rein to create their Turtle Power Grant Recipient: Falmouth High School Ceramics Department I

But it’s not so in Corine Adams’ ceramics arts class at Falmouth own piece of art depicting the creatures. Some, like senior MaryAlyce High School. There students tap into another part of their mind, Bevacqua, 17, made actual sculptures of turtles (three to be exact). and body, where creativity rules. Some, like junior Kerry Shanahan, 17, made something a little more

Thanks to the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod’s support, this utilitarian—a turtle clock. And some, like senior Emily Freedman, 18, past spring sophomores, juniors and seniors were able to use their made a hanging jellyfish which happens to be a leatherback delicacy. imagination to tell the story of the endangered leatherback sea turtle. Other works included plates, vases and cups. “All the artwork

It started with the funding needed to pay for the materials that is completely different,” Adams says. The pieces were set to be allowed 45 students to embark on an adventure that combined displayed and auctioned off at the end of April at WHOI to science with art with fundraising, all while connecting them with benefit Dr. Dodge’s research. the larger community outside their school. AFCC Executive Director Julie Wake praised the well

Adams says that grants, like the one the AFCC supplied to roundedness of this artistic enterprise. Not only does it teach her class, are necessary “to do bigger projects” where there can be students about these rare animals, but about real scientific work trial and error that “we’re not able to do with my regular budget. being done in their backyard to better understand their behavior. We are really grateful for all the support we can get and the Arts And it allows the students to play a role in future efforts to protect Foundation has always been generous to us.” the leatherback sea turtle.

The next step was for the students to immerse themselves in “They are actively thinking about a bigger world than their the world of the leatherback. That is where Dr. Kara Dodge of the classroom,” Wake says. “They are thinking about how to save something Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) served as an and about how these turtles make an impact. And their work is going invaluable resource, meeting with students in January to talk about to be seen. It is going to raise money so there’s this full circle of building her TurtleCam project, which involves tagging the animals and empathy for these animals using creative thinking.”

Falmouth High School art teacher Corine Adams gave each of her students the freedom to create their own turtle-themed ceramic piece. Senior Hannah Callahan, 18, made a plate adorned with the seafaring creature