Payton Blaney

221 Barham Road

Reidsville, NC 27320
2/14/2018

Rockingham County High School

180 High School Road
Reidsville, NC 27320

Dear Rockingham County Advisory Board:

I have decided to do my Senior Project on childhood diabetes. In recent years, the prevalence
of diabetes in children has increased dramatically. In the United States alone, it is estimated
that nearly 160,700 children under the age of twenty have type I diabetes while over 20,000
have been diagnosed with type II diabetes. My immediate family has dealt with the effects of
childhood diabetes as my younger brother was diagnosed with type I diabetes at age nine. I
have witnessed first hand the medical, emotional, and financial burden of the autoimmune
disease. Through my senior project, I hope to generate awareness and advocate for a cure for
the chronic illness that has plagued my family along with millions of others.

In my research paper, I will examine the different aspects of juvenile diabetes, including the
history, the causes, and the treatment options. I will discuss the most recent research
conducted on the disease and the progress that has been made regarding a cure. Furthermore,
I plan to include examples of case studies and stories of children that have been diagnosed with
diabetes in order to gain a deeper understanding of the severity of the lifelong condition.

I will be creating my product in collaboration with Kylie Citty. As interns at local elementary
schools, we work with children everyday and plan to utilize our opportunities in order to inform
the students of childhood illnesses and enlightened them about the significance of being grateful
for their health. Along with us, the students will be making uplifting cards that will be distributed
to children suffering from chronic illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, and a wide variety of
others. We will be working with an organization known as Cards for Hospitalized Kids in order
to distribute the cards. I will be looking towards Lela McCollum, a second grade teacher at
Bethany Elementary, for expertise throughout my project. I have been interning with Mrs.
McCollum for six months and I feel confident in her ability to guide me as I work with the
students to create my product.

I am aware of the definition and consequences of plagiarism. I want to take this opportunity to
pledge that my project will be a reflection of my own independence and individuality and no
plagiarizing sources will be utilized. It is important to avoid plagiarism and be an ethical person
in order to demonstrate my own capability and demonstrate my personal moral.

Sincerely,
Payton Blaney

I have read my child’s Letter of Intent and agree to support my child in the completion of the
Capstone Experience.

Parent/Guardian signature: ______________________________________