MIDDLE SCHOOL CAPSTONE PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

As a culmination of their middle school experiences at Watershed, 8th graders completed a self-motivated Capstone Project. For their projects, students were required to connect a personal passion or interest to their learning at Watershed and with a need in the community. Simon Behar ‘28 and Nadav Link ‘28 worked together to create their own business: Ethicut. Ethicut specializes in handcrafted laser-cut wood products, with a percentage of profits donated to a nonprofit. Guiding their work, Simon and Nadav aimed to answer their project’s essential question: How can independent artists work with environmental activists to make a difference?

According to their business plan, their goal was to “incentivize donations and empower consumers to make a positive impact. Ethicut will donate 20% of our net profit to nonprofit organizations. By purchasing our intricately-crafted laser-cut products, customers will not only enjoy high-quality items but also contribute to meaningful causes. Currently, we have selected POW [Protect Our Winters], a nonprofit dedicated to combating climate change effects on winters, as the recipient of our donations.” 

Simon and Nadav intricately researched every aspect of their business and financial plan, consulting experts for guidance along the way. Through their business plan, they identified target consumer demographics, anticipated costs, projected profits, and predicted donations. They even created an online store for their products via Etsy, an online independent artist marketplace for handmade items. 

For the process of laser-cutting, Nadav and Simon used a system called Onshape to create their designs and relied on a piece of laser-cutting equipment called Glowforge to execute them. Products included wood-cut earrings, 3-D sculptures, and trivets.

The team ended up making a fair number of sales! As promised, 20% of profits were donated to benefit the Protect Our Winters organization. Overall, the project showcased a high standard of financial planning, innovative thinking, and a commitment to the common good.