Max Monahan (right) showcasing the importance of river safety in hobbies like water rafting.

By Tommy Osborne

D.P. Todd Capstone

Prince George students highlight lifesaving measures, advances in medical field, in capstone presentations

Jan 28, 2026 | 5:36 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Capstone presentations are taking place across School District 57, showcasing the next generation’s passions and hopes for the future. Among the schools taking part is D.P. Todd, and one student hopes to take his relatively modest hobby of 3D printing and turn it into something that could have tremendous positive impacts.

“3D printing is technology, obviously, so it’s advancing due to AI and it’s getting better and better. Now, they’re starting to 3D print with other stuff like stem cells and things like that, so it’s really helpful in that way. They make valves and different parts that may not have been easy to acquire other ways,” said Isaiah Hyun, who was presenting on his hobby on 3D printing and hopes to be a doctor.

He explained he began 3D printing in grade nine, and while he largely did things like toys, figures, or what he called “trinkets” he has been exploring ways to use his talents to promote education and further learning for others.

“My mom, she’s an occupational therapist at UBC, and I made this little learning tool for a student who’s visually impaired. The little pieces come out and she can physically feel what the model is. So she can kind of visualize it in that way,” Hyun said.

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Hyun holding the device he discussed. Each shape comes out to offer a tactile learning experience.

A cone with detachable segments to explain conic shapes, also 3D printed by Hyun.

“Maybe I 3D print a little car or like a little trinket, but you know, in the end, in the future, I might be printing something way more important or making something like bigger than just myself,” Hyun said.

Hyun wasn’t alone in sharing a topic he was deeply passionate about, as the entire D.P. Todd gym was full of students presenting on other topics like cooking, sports, the arts, and more. Among them was Max Monahan, who was presenting on white water rafting. More specifically, he came in with a clear goal to emphasize the importance of water safety, hoping to educate people on why you have to respect the river.

“There’s been many deaths on the rivers, and people don’t take it as seriously as they should. The number one danger on the river is wood, and people wouldn’t think of that. But if a tree falls down and you get caught on it, you could drown,” Monahan said.

Monahan took his capstone opportunity to showcase the various tools you should have when white water rafting or kayaking, and how to use them to keep yourself safe in potential life-or-death situations. While that may sound dramatic, Monahan urges you that it could literally mean your life, so being prepared before you take on the hobby is paramount.

“My dad, who taught me how to kayak has known many people that have died on the river and it’s way more dangerous than people think,” he said.

Despite the dangers, Monahan does encourage anyone interested to try white water rafting, as he loves it and says it’s definitely worth the experience, but you have to keep your safety in mind.

“Don’t be so afraid of it, because even though there’s risks, there’s more rewards,” he said.

One beneficial aspect of capstone presentations is that it gets students thinking about potential career paths, and for Malayna Castley it was her passion for dancing that lead to her realizing she would want to pursue a career in physiotherapy.

“With dance, a lot of injuries can occur. Physiotherapy is all about movement of your body and how you can sustain it and maintain it and all that stuff. I think it’s very important for athletes and performers to get the proper care for their bodies,” Castley said.

These types of presentations, and the passion that goes with it, is exactly what D.P. Todd educators are hoping to achieve through the capstone program.

“What’s really nice about students being able to pick their own project is also in the education component of career life education. They also might have to do some research about future jobs, maybe: ‘how does their passion connect to jobs outside of this? What might be some career opportunities?'” said Niki Robichaud, a high school counsellor at D.P. Todd said.

“It connects really well to what you’re passionate about, so it really just creates a dialogue for students about lifelong learning,” Robichaud continued.