RUSSELLVILLE – Morgan Todd, a graduating senior at Russellville High School, waited patiently Tuesday for her chance to give an important presentation as part of her school district’s graduation requirements.

“I’m kind of nervous,” she said and referenced the spaghetti sauce stains on her jeans left by children she works with outside school as one of her three jobs.

Todd would soon go before a panel of community members who would ask her questions and grade her readiness for college or a job after graduation.

It’s one aspect of the school district’s Russellville Ready initiative, which this year made giving a 10- to 15-minute presentation about their educational experiences and personal growth a graduation requirement for students.

When Todd first learned of the initiative, she admitted feeling some frustration.

“Why do we have to do all this extra stuff for us to graduate? We put in all the work,” she said. “Now I realize it’s for a good cause.”

The initiative was piloted in the Russellville Independent School District last year. It evaluates students’ post-secondary, career and citizenship readiness through community service, group collaboration skills and through citizenship and financial literacy tests, among other measures.

“It’s a good thing, but it’s a lot of work,” she said of the initiative, adding it’s prepared her to start at Western Kentucky University and pursue a career in the FBI.

On Tuesday, Todd gave a presentation reflecting on her strengths and areas for growth.

When she described her work as a preschool teacher’s assistant, she teared up. After telling her students she’d be giving an important presentation to graduate high school, they begged her not to go and left spaghetti sauce fingerprints on her clothes.

Panelists, including Republican state Rep. Jason Petrie of Elkton, asked Todd to reflect on her strengths and abilities.

“I just want them to try to reflect on themselves and say, ‘What have I improved the most on and what do I think I have to improve on yet?’ ” he told the Daily News.

Petrie said he appreciated the genuine and often emotional responses he heard from students participating in the panel presentations.

“It’s not just a rote response. It’s them interacting with you, which is great,” he said, describing it as a “very good project.”

Also among the panelists was Todd’s English teacher Lauren Fynboe.

In an interview with the Daily News, Fynboe praised Todd’s dedication to getting up early to serve as bus monitor for young students, including her daughter London.

“I think the future’s in good hands, especially with kids like Morgan,” she said.

Fynboe views the Russellville Ready initiative as a chance for her students to build soft skills, which are often overlooked as students move through school.

“It’s a good transition phase for them to meet community members that will be good connections for them to have,” Fynboe said.

Asked in an interview to reflect on her experience, Todd said “It taught me to always have an open mind, try everything. Because you’ll never know what you’ll get out of it.”