“There is a term in engineering called “skunkworks” - projects made by engineers fueled entirely by their passions, using what they have around them. Ap embodied this so much, and it showed in his ingenuity. The bass was never going to be Ap’s best project. It was just the start. It really was a representation of how math, science and art combined in harmony…” -Nilin C

As a Grade 10 student at Strathcona Tweedsmuir School, Apostoli combined his love of music and design, to envision, draft, and independently build a hand-crafted, acrylic bass guitar - from scratch - for his IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) Personal Project. Apostoli constructed this bass with attention to detail. It was not a quick or easy process, and he worked hard, wholly committing himself to the task. Apostoli constructed this bass with attention to detail. It was not a quick or easy process, spanning months of effort. He worked hard, wholly committing himself to the task. The end result was a beautiful piece of engineering art that embodies his ingenuity. Apostoli played this piece of art as if it were an extension of his fingers. The deep resonance that came from the bass was enjoyed by everyone with whom it was shared. He was incredibly proud of this one-of-a-kind instrument, and his teachers and peers remember Apostoli’s beautiful creation with immense admiration. 

In celebration of Apostoli’s innate ability to transform his forward-thinking ideas from conception to implementation, and thanks to the generosity of many who knew and loved Apostoli, STS has created the “Apostoli Marinakos MYP Personal Project Prize” to be awarded each year at Prizegiving to the student/s who demonstrate inspiration and execution in their Grade 10 MYP Personal Project.

This award is fully funded and to date, in June 2023 and 2024, 2 students have been the recipients of this awards.