HVRHS seniors are required to complete a Capstone project, a culminating
academic endeavor that demonstrates scholarship, creativity, and real-
world application of their Housatonic educational experience. The Pinnacle
Award, a partnership between HVRHS and the Alumni Association,
recognizes academic excellence and future-ready leadership.

The first HVRHS Alumni Pinnacle Award for Capstone Excellence was
presented to Mia DiRocco from the class of 2026. Mia’s Capstone project
was Journalism. The project began with her work on the HVRHS Today
section of the Lakeville Journal, continued with an internship with that
paper, and then received funding to attend The New York Times summer
program. Her Capstone project perfectly reflects all the qualities in the
HVRHS Portrait of a Graduate in a field that is essential to our local and
national communities.

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Mia began her Capstone project by reinvigorating the HVRHS student
paper, which is now published as a special section of the Lakeville Journal.
She compiled the findings from her journalism experiences, especially with
the New York Times, into a slide show for her final report.

Mia, who is from Cornwall, is continuing to intern with the Lakeville
Journal this summer. She has freelanced with her hometown paper, the
Cornwall Chronicle, and, as co-editor, wrote several articles for the HVRHS
literary magazine, ACORN 2025 – 2026, helping to revive the publication.
Mia will be attending Northwestern University, where she plans to major in
journalism, with an additional interest in international relations reporting.

Pinnacle Award projects must demonstrate:

● Creativity: presenting a fresh perspective or unique solution to a
problem or topic.
● Sustainability: Thorough consideration of the environmental
impact of the project and/or the longevity of the project .
● Impact: Showing potential to benefit the school, local community.
● Depth of Research: Exhibiting mastery of the subject
matter and a rigorous investigative process.
● Quality of Execution: Presenting a final product (thesis,
physical build, digital solution, or performance) executed to a professional
standard.

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Pinnacle Award nominations are made by Capstone instructors and
reviewed by a committee of faculty, administrators, and alumni. Winners
are recognized at the annual HVRHS award ceremony, receive a
honorarium, have their name engraved on the Pinnacle Award plaque at the
school, and their names and project descriptions are posted on the Alumni
Association website, Facebook page, and in the Blue ‘n’ Gold newsletter.