University High students present first-responders coloring-book capstone; district considers curriculum adoption

Two 2025 University High School graduates presented a community capstone project to the Roswell Independent School District board Aug. 12: a first-responders themed coloring book created to teach elementary students about emergency services and reduce fear of responders. Students Dakota Blotzer and Maya Phillips described a semester-long project that included proposals, consultations with local first-responder agencies (Roswell Police, fire service, AMR/EMS and others), classroom presentations at El Capitan Elementary and a rough-draft coloring book distributed to board members. Blotzer said the project grew from a classroom presentation into a finished product after the students learned how to adapt language and images for young children; Phillips said she hopes the book will help children "understand that first responders are here to help and that they are their friends." The students said they plan to copyright the finished product and were exploring an LLC for distribution; they asked the district to help with curriculum adoption and with reading-specialist review to confirm developmental appropriateness. Board and district staff encouraged them and discussed next steps to work with reading specialists and possible curriculum adoption at district or county level. Why it matters: the capstone bridges CTE/community projects and early-childhood literacy and safety education. District staff said the project could be developed further for classroom use and recommended review by reading specialists and curriculum leaders.