Ryan Aderhold chose to run a fundraiser for Parkinson's disease as his senior project. His goals were to raise awareness of Parkinson's and raise money, as his grandmother had passed from the disease. He organized bake sales and raised over $400 for Parkinson's research. Through his project, he learned about the challenges of running a nonprofit and gained insight into pursuing a career in neurology to help patients and find a cure. He believes the senior project gives students a chance to explore topics they find interesting in an active learning experience that teaches responsibility.

1. 105 Holly Trace Lane
Ball Ground, GA 30107
Date: April 17th
, 2013
Judges, Senior Project
Creekview High School
1550 Owens Store Road
Canton, GA 30115
Dear Judges:
My name is Ryan Aderhold, and for my Senior Project I chose to run a fundraiser for
Parkinson’s disease. My goals for my project were to spreads the word about Parkinson’s
disease and to raise as much money as I could. I chose this disease for my Senior Project
because my grandmother passed away from Parkinson’s disease in 2005. This gave me a
chance to start up my own nonprofit organization and raise money to find a cure for
Parkinson’s. Choosing this project was an easy decision and I’m glad that I spent my
senior year completing it.
During my research I identified problems that occur in fundraising and nonprofit
organizations. This helped me throughout my project, reminding me that I had to stay
organized while I was setting up times with my facilitator and baking my goods to sell to
help raise money. I had to plan out going to the grocery store and buying the supplies I
needed to complete my project. Keeping up with names of people who were mass
ordering cookies and cakes was a strenuous task but I overcame. In the end, I raised over
$400 just by selling cookies and cakes and that is probably the greatest feeling ever,
knowing that I’m going to be able to help someone like my grandmother with
Parkinson’s.
My topic and research didn’t have much in common besides the fact that I was running a
nonprofit organization. I wish my research would have tied into more of my project so I
wasn’t struggling to find information at times to help myself complete a tedious task. My
product has more to do with my future because I want to eventually become a doctor and
work with Parkinson’s patients all over the United States. Becoming a doctor that
specializes in brain disorders will give me the chance to explore Parkinson’s and many
other brain disorders. I would love to be able to make history one day and say that I
helped find a cure for this horrible disease. I learned that helping people in need is a need
that I can fill in the world.
I believe the Senior Project is necessary because it gives the seniors a chance to explore
and dive into to a topic that interests them and gives them incentive to actually want to do
it. I enjoyed the Senior Project and I’m glad I got to participate in such an active learning
project. It taught me a lot about responsibility and that it is needed for future seniors.
Thank you for your time and consideration, have a nice day.

2. Sincerely,
Ryan Aderhold