Tracy High senior Lily Andish is making a difference in the Tracy community with her AG/Sci senior project, Project Orange. In four elementary schools, Andish has created sensory rooms and sensory corners for special needs kids.

“I’m putting sensory toys and things that will help calm down special needs kids so that they are able to work throughout the day,” Andish explained.

Andish expressed the challenges she had to work through.

“I raised $2,000 for the sensory rooms. Managing my money has been kind of hard because everything’s really expensive for the rooms. I had to learn how to split between schools,” Andish described.

Andish devoted much of her time to planning and constructing her project.

“I planned my project in junior year,” Andish unfolded. “I started fundraising in March [then] I planned meetings with schools in May and built the sensory rooms this summer.”

Andish expressed the pride she feels in her project as she has a younger brother with special needs, therefore, she is passionate about helping the community and looks forward to her presentation.

Tracy Unified Speech Pathologist Anna Thompson highlighted the importance of having sensory rooms on campus.

“Sensory materials, such as toys and blankets, are very calm to touch,” Thompson stated. “They need their own corner to drown everything else out.”

Thompson emphasizes the effects of having these resources for special needs kids.

“The hope is to eventually get to the point where they can recover more quickly, not isolate themselves and become more independent in their regulation,” Thompson described.

Head Coordinator of AG/Sci, Stacy Browne, expressed the significance behind planning out a proper project.

“Sustainability is important, so students understand the process and importance behind the projects,” Browne stated. “We want students to have meaning, during or even after the project.”