Service Learning Commons^™

Diversity And Engagement In Supplemental Elementary Art Education, Maggie Espinoza Sennesael

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

In this project, I identified two main issues in standard elementary level art education through consultation with a teacher (second grade, public school), and research. These issues are the apparent lack of diversity in the selection of artists that are included in lessons, as well as a tendency for children’s art activities to be oversimplified or limited in regard to their potential for creative expression and overall engagement. In an effort to address these two issues, I designed and assembled an educational resource (digital lesson/activity book) that would include a diverse range of artists for students to learn about as …

Wellness And Stress Management For Service Industry Employees, Jadrael J. Schmidt

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The following is a professional and educational experiment project designed to highlight the importance of wellness and self care for service industry employees. This project is an experiment to see what tools we can implement as service industry employees to reduce stress levels and take better care of ourselves, together. I used my own place of work (small town mom and pop business) and encouraged employees to participate in my case study as a means to address their own wellbeing, establish stress reduction techniques, make a positive change within our company’s culture, and create a more supportive work environment. Below …

Professional As A Mother: Empowering Working Mothers Through Social Media, Trinity Marie Hernandez-Lopez

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Women in the workforce continue to experience a gendered pay gap, making only around 86% of the salary of their male counterparts (Pew Research, 2022). This is worse still for those women with children, who are less likely to be considered for promotional opportunities and dismissed as not committed to their careers. As a mother, I have been on the receiving end of this discrimination, but I am also lucky enough to understand my rights and value in the workforce. The goal of this capstone project was to improve the outcomes for working mothers by developing an online community to …

Implementation Of Peer Mentoring In Grief Recovery Group, Carol L. Nickel

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Keystone Hospice offers a grief recovery group to survivors of their patients. Meetings are held once a week for six weeks and are one hour in length. To provide additional support to those who are recovering from grief, the use of peer mentors was introduced into the group.

Smart Card Revamping, Jana M. Lawler

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in a medical office which helps you get in for treatment and on your way in a timely manner? I have been a medical assistant for almost 6 years, privileged to be at the same location within the Treasure Valley, and I can verify that the magic behind the scenes involves constant process improvements but this especially prevalent when the unexpected happens - a pandemic. Working in a hospital during Covid-19 added challenges to nurses like never before. Our processes were already strained but now we have more to do and …

Creating Smiles And Cards For Meals On Wheels, Rhonda L. Carson

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project was a service learning project involving Caldwell Meals on Wheels. Students around the Treasure Valley created “thinking of you” cards for those who receive meals from Caldwell Meals on Wheels, to be delivered with their meals. Its purpose was multifaceted. Participating in this project brought awareness to high schoolers about those in the community who are shut-ins. The cards are intended to bring joy and brighten the day to the Meals on Wheels recipients. Three keywords that represent my project are volunteer work, community, and service learning.

Differences Aside, Dzanela Husic

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The capstone project concerns cultural diversity at an elementary school, specifically at a 2nd-grade level. I interviewed my daughter and her teacher for my research. I involved my daughter in the book because she comes from a different culture and is being raised in another. She is the perfect example for my project because she has a cultural background, and she is not aware that people around her don't recognize that culture. I interviewed her teacher because she is emotionally intelligent and recognizes that cultural awareness is needed in classroom settings. Part of my research involved reading extensive literature about …

A Guide To How To Start A Keto Diet, Julia A. Smith

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project revolved around creating a straightforward guide to starting a medical-grade ketogenic diet for families and children with epilepsy (seizures) or metabolic disorders (Glucose Transporter Type 1 Deficiency Syndrome). The booklet gives individuals, families, and caregivers an interactive guide to exploring websites, videos, and other resources to understand the complexities of the keto diet. The booklet also features recipes adapted to a six-year-old and approved by her, along with resources for dining at restaurants and fast food establishments.

Latinx Community Language Barriers: Local Food Sustainability And Food Insecurity, Joan C. Echols

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service learning project researched food sustainability and food insecurity issues with a focus on the local Hispanic community. Often the available resources to combat food insecurity do not get to the communities that need them the most due to language barriers and accessibility of information. I created a newsletter in English and Spanish and posted it on my website TelaWeb.Org. The link for the website was shared through social media, and provided to various stakeholders involved in the project to share on their own social media pages or websites. This newsletter addresses the value of food sustainability, provides information …

Glenns Ferry Animal Shelter, Reyna Riemenapp

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project was an action-project. During the development of this project, I partnered with the Glenns Ferry, ID, animal shelter. My goal was to help this small town in Idaho with its animal shelter because it relies 100% on donations to care for its dogs. I was saddened to hear that the shelter was having trouble feeding the dogs, so I decided to help by collecting food, toys, and dog supplies. Aside from asking family, friends, and coworkers for donations, I also contacted local Zamzows pet and gardening stores for donations of food and dog supplies. Also, I decided …

Something Has To Change, Alex Dodge

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project happened to be about the same time that I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease. Lyme disease is acquired when you are bitten by an infected tick. If not treated in the acute stages this person will continue to get sicker with a multitude of unexplained health issues. I am an unlucky individual that was bitten by a diseased tick, and I had no idea. It took a year before any of my doctors figured it out. I was faced with a major lifestyle decision once I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme. If I wanted to live symptom-free …

Social Media An Effective Tool For Marketing, Ronee Chandler

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Increasing revenue using social media marketing.

Rock Creek Research Project, Michael Easterling

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Rock Creek is a tributary to the Snake River. It stretches across Twin Falls county as well as Cassia County and is around forty-four miles long. It is also home to many multiple different species of wildlife, mostly fish. With all of these fish comes the amazing sport of fishing which is what my friends, family, and self do consistently. Unfortunately, Rock Creek like other public bodies of water has become polluted over the years mainly with E. Coli. In this paper, one will be able to look over my perspective on the issue as well as an interview with …

Veterans. They Serve, They Get Out, Now What?, Bre Adams

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My name is Bre Carden and i have been in the United States Air Force for 11 years. I myself, along with ma other Veterans have worked years under the command and guidance of our military. I have noticed when their service to our country is up, our veterans are put into civilian life to take on a new chapter with no clue how or where to start and build their new lives. This leads to homelessness, depression, mental health, anger, and more. With a program in place for Veterans and their families to transition from military living, to civilian …

Emotional Intelligence: Benefits Within The Classroom, Taylor M. Garber

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Since the pandemic arose in 2020, schools have lived in a world of unknown. From in school classes to online zoom meetings, teachers have had to adjust their teaching methods leaving them burnt out and frustrated. With hopes of breaking through this gray area, introducing the idea of Emotional Intelligence in schools surrounding Valley County, could greatly impact their path back to normalcy. I have created a prototype for schools surrounding my community. With the first launch happening in September, I am hopeful that this prototype can then be used in other schools as well. This project consists of a …

Gardening For The Future, Abby M. Edgar

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This paper discusses the importance of the capstone project working with the Boise Urban Garden School and the impact they may have on the community. We explore what the project is and how it will lead to greater knowledge for the future.

School Safety For Security Teams, Richard G. Nottingham

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This paper is an introduction to school safety intended on helping a new school security team member jump start their training. It includes some data and situations a security member may come across in the year. It is hoped that by reading this, the new member will be able to immediately begin their duties and have a strong foundation on the people, emergency situations and tasks that are assigned to the position.

The Yeti Tumbler Alliance, Emily Huber

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For my Capstone Project I chose a topic that I am passionate about. I truly believe that outdoor recreation is critical to mental health. My family is passionate about rock climbing. I have found that many people find this sport to be inaccessible. Most climbing areas have very difficult climbs or very easy climbs for beginners. My goal was to develop and bolt a climb that is easy for beginners but next to harder climbs so people could take their friends and introduce them to the sport in an environment where everyone can have fun.

I am very happy with …

Is Religion Dividing America Beyond Repair?, Alec Wheeler

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

In 2022, the state of America is highly debated. Are we united? Are we divided? What unites us despite our differences? There have been times of great tribulation in American history, just as there have been times of great unity. Many Americans remember the day after the 9/11 attacks as a day to set our differences aside and help one another. At the beginning of the COVID-19 nationwide lock down there was celebration of healthcare workers and campaigns to help your neighbors out with groceries. During times of tremendous worry and pain, Americans come together through their differences and work …

How The Covid-19 Pandemic Has Affected The Mental Health Of Healthcare Workers, Jessica M. Farner

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

In recent years, healthcare has changed drastically. The outlook healthcare workers have on the environment and the attitudes they carry in their day to day life have been severely affected due to many different reasons, the most recent COVID-19 pandemic being a catalyst. In this paper, I hope to explore and dive more in depth on why this has happened, what can be changed, and the toll it has taken on these front line workers using research found and conducted myself. I located many articles and research studies that discuss the psychological toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on healthcare …

Electrical Safety Program Loto Procedures, Justin D. Rose

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For my project I am going to help create and implement new LOTO procedures for our substation. This will be part of a much larger project. The larger project will be implementing an Electrical Safety Program. Part of that program is creating lock out procedures. This project will help solve a gap in an established safety program. Either we continue as we have been and leave ourselves vulnerable to safety and reliability issues or we create an established safety program that will bring us more in-line with current industry standards. Through this project we will create procedures for safely isolating …

Water, Sunshine And Safety: Community Service At Its Best, Kimberly A. Hammond

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

To complete this capstone project, I engaged my personally owned and operated water sports recreation business in a community service event geared towards water safety education. In this project, community members were offered to sign up and/or participate in a day-long event that included a professional fitting for a personal floatation device (PFD), a water recreation safety seminar and a guided kayaking shoreline tour of Lake Walcott State Park and National Wildlife Preserve. The event, sponsored by Adrift Kayak Adventures LLC, was completely free to the public and centered around the ideals of community service, safety, and outdoor recreation …

The Leadership Tree: Growing Leadership Through Quality Conversations, Jayke Sterling

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

As the issue of trying to coach all the staff at the same time became too overwhelming for the management team at Biolife, a solution was born. After many brainstorming ideas the final decision was made to create a leadership tree to divide the work amongst the management team while keeping a consistent vision. The final product turned out to be beneficial to both parties and increased the frequency and quality of coaching.

The Power Of 20-Minute Naps To Zen Time, Lee Rockwell

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Naps are not just for National Nap Day on March 13^th (SHRM, 2019) and naps aren’t only for toddlers. Approximately 1 in 3 American adults nap, according to previous Pew Research Center data (Everyday Health, 2022). Research has shown that the workplace needs to offer separate time for their employees to take a 20-minute power nap or Zen time. Zen time can be defined as relaxed or feeling peaceful (Zen Definitions, 2022). ‌Some people would consider napping to be lazy. However, it is the opposite. A survey by Mattress Nerd of 2,000 adults showed nappers considered themselves more productive …

The Graduate’S Dilemma: Transitioning From Academic Life Into The Professional World, Colton L. Robinson

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Examines the issue of college students finding employment after graduation. Investigates the disconnect that exists between employers and job candidates, and why each have a different understanding of the situation. Provides job-seeking graduates and employers a big picture view of the situation and provides solutions to help bridge the gap between the two parties for more productive interactions.

Finding A Better Workplace Culture, Kimberly Parr

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My name is Kimberly Parr. I currently work in Quality Management at a local hospital. Over the last year, our leadership team had developed a very negative work culture. It was only certain people, but it left the rest of us wondering what we could do. I decided to make this issue my capstone project and I made it my goal to create a positive, more welcoming environment for our employees.

Time Management Skills And How They Benefit Your Mental Health, Berkley E. Fredrick

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

As an undergraduate student at Boise State University I have experienced a significant amount of stress while trying to manage life in the classroom, at home, and in the workplace. This sparked my interest in trying to determine whether or not there was a relationship between possessing quality time management skills and having a healthy mind. Mental health is a complex idea that is unique to every person, but if a task as simple as utilizing a planner can improve a student or working professional’s state of mind, my goal was to share that. Throughout my research I found that …

The Environmental Stewardship Program: Contemplative Practice And Its Application To Outdoor Education, David N. Crowson

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

How might I integrate mindful awareness, benevolent social action, and environmental stewardship into the routine of an outdoor education program? The Flourish Foundation, a social-profit organization, based in Hailey, Idaho, helps facilitate a youth service-learning program maintaining wilderness trails for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area called the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP). This program aims to provide emerging adults with service-learning opportunities in wilderness conservation and outdoor living skills by spending several days living in the backcountry and maintaining wilderness trails. A growing body of evidence supports the age-old understanding that spending time in natural environments is beneficial to our cognitive …

Mental Health Stigma, Myna H. Krueck

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Mental health stigma refers to societal disapproval, or when society places shame on people who live with a mental illness or seek help for emotional distress, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD. I made a poll with students attending Boise State about stigma and mental illness and posted it on Instagram for those people to take it. I took the results that were found from that poll and created an awareness newsletter. I posted this newsletter to the same Instagram account where I made the poll for. The newsletter was able to spread awareness through social media, and …

Eating Through Trauma, Thea R. Jordan

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Ever skipped a meal because you didn't feel hungry? This is likely because the body was not in a state of rest and digest. When our bodies are overloaded with cortisol (stress hormones), and adrenaline we are not able to effectively digest food, leaving us in a heightened state that is deeply disruptive to the nervous system.

Avoiding situations where you will be eating or skipping meals altogether is a simple protection mechanism that the body uses in the event it needs to fight or flight. When the body has been conditioned to be hypervigilant in the event of a …