The graduation date for Freeport High School seniors is approaching as they wrap up their projects and reflect on their experiences.

Graduation day for the 141 seniors at Freeport High School is June 8, but graduating senior Kenzie Cochran graduated a week earlier than her classmates thanks to her Senior Project Experience presentation. The project presentations — which were held the last week of May —  involved students designing and executing an independent learning journey focused on academic exploration, community service or social justice. The culmination is a slideshow presentation showcasing a student’s accomplishments to peers and faculty.

Cochran’s research for her Senior Experience Project explores how great white sharks benefit New England ecosystems and how ecotourism can promote positive feelings toward sharks, despite negative portrayals in film and culture.

She presented her findings on shark biology and common misconceptions about them on May 27, and will adapt her project into a simplified guided presentation for a teacher in one of the Freeport High School classes.

Cochran’s project involved shark diving over spring break in Jupiter Beach, Florida, and researching and interviewing people studying sharks in Maine for the remaining four weeks. Instead of using a shark cage during the diving trips, she went free diving with a group and found six shark species, including black-tip reef sharks, silky sharks and bull sharks.

“The biggest lesson is just being myself,” Cochran said. “I basically try to do everything [with] all of my accomplishments on and off the field, then in and out of school based on my faith.”

Cochran reflects on the blessings God has given her and ensures she lives through kindness and a dedicated work ethic, which she plans to take with her after graduation. She plans on going to St. Joseph’s College after the summer break to study in the premed biology program and minor in psychology.

She said her dive with the sharks also reflects her faith in being herself and trying new things, even if it is not always easy.

Cochran is part of the National Honor Society and has tutored biology at Freeport High School for one semester, helping with midterms and finals. Although she does not have a passion for tutoring, she wanted to help students struggling with their studies. She has also received the Maine Principal Award for Freeport in 2025, which encompasses athletics, academics, leadership and community service.

She was also a captain on the soccer team, playing for all four years on the high school’s Falcons team. Before graduation, Cochran will help coach an incoming freshman for the girls soccer team.