Service Learning Commons^™

Swing With Me, Daniel Kyle

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This is my Capstone Project for IPS introducing my business plan for Swing with Me, a country swing dance business me and my girlfriend Chelsea are going to start here in Ontario!

Capstone 2023: The Bond Of Learning, Mckinzee D. Goodwin

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The learning that is done between the ages of 2-5 years old provides for lifelong learning. Basic knowledge of the alphabet, numbers, and colors used to be expected before a child steps foot into the public school setting, however as time has passed children have been increasingly behind in those steps. A recent study found that for every ten children that arrive at kindergarten each fall only four of them are prepared. Those six who are not prepared struggle in a continuous catch-up cycle (Livingstone, 2015). My capstone project was to show others who might be worried about the readiness …

Summer Therapy And Coaching Resource Notebook, Kelli J. Pease

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project aims to fulfill the need for an easily accessible and well-organized resource notebook for summer Educational Therapy and Academic Coaching that our organization has talked about doing for some time now but has always lacked the manpower to make happen. I desire to have this be a stepping stone towards offering a valuable, well-defined service for our administration to offer to our students and families in the future.

This approach will address the frustration of having data and information scattered between our three schools, departments, and people. It will also take current resources, information, and opinions from other …

Parenting Perspective Podcast Capstone Project, Daniel P. Perttula

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The Dads That Talk Podcast is a Capstone Project that intends to help parents, including myself, learn new parenting styles or techniques that they could not be otherwise aware of. This is being accomplished by solving the problem statement, how might I improve my parenting skills and the parenting skills of my peers by producing a podcast that reviews real life parenting challenges in today’s society. I focus on discussing different styles of parenting to establish a foundation of understanding on the many different approaches and styles that a parent can leverage. Listeners have an easy to consume source of …

Boosting Employee Morale Through Team Building, Nancy Marquez

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project focuses on the creation of a team building manual, suggestions of team building activities that can be used in the workplace for both in-office and virtual teams, and results of a pilot activity. PowerPoint outlines the process of creating a Manual for management, implementing a pilot activity, measuring results and obtaining feedback from a team of 45 employees working remotely and onsite across 3 states.

PDF Manual shows each page of the OneNote manual delivered to management at the conclusion of the project. Resources on managing cliques in the medical office and silos in the workplace are linked. …

Change The World One Worm At A Time!, David C. Goff

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My Capstone Project aims to blend the old with the new. It's about taking tried-and-true farming practices and breathing new life into them with innovative, sustainable solutions. It seeks to balance making a living from the land and caring for it for future generations.

The project's core revolves around Organic Worm Tea, a natural product we've been developing and testing. This process involves rolling up our sleeves, getting our hands dirty, and observing the tea's effect on various farms, including those run by immigrant farmers who bring unique farming traditions from their home countries.

But this project isn't just about …

Organizing The Process, Erika Arellano

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The capstone project that I chose to complete for this semester is program organization. Our developmental preschool program offers services for children with disabilities from three to five years of age. Having a well-organized and structured program is a foundational must as so much time is consumed with paperwork and meetings. As a first-year preschool teacher, I started the school year with more questions than answers, and answers that confused me even more. The way it is currently set up is with piles and piles of loose files stacked up on a desk, and post-it notes with all sorts of …

Migraine Journeys: An Exploration In Connecting Cultures, Ashley D. Barnes

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

"Migraine Journeys: An Exploration in Connecting Cultures" is a research project that looks at headaches from different cultures. Through the blog "Beyond Migraine Pain," this project looks at how different cultures use language, how they think about headaches, and how they treat them. The goal is to shed light on how migraines affect people and communities around the world and get rid of the stigmas that come with this disease. Such as women only being the only ones to get migraines and not men, the fact that very simple everyday actions can manage migraines because they aren’t “that serious”, and …

Fundraisers For Pajamas For Residents At Deasano Assisted Living, Melissa Ruvalcaba

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

After brainstorming and drawing on my final proposal for my project in 492, I decided that I either created two different kinds of fundraisers for those in need at Desano Assisted living or I create an event where people donate essentials for the nursing home. I came to the conclusion that creating fundraisers and providing the residents with their needs/wants from the funds raised was more beneficial. Raising money myself is going to give me the opportunity to provide the residents with personalized items that will provide them with a better quality of life. It has and will continue to …

Ani-Care Animal Shelter Fundraiser, Linda Cisneros

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project was an action project. I decided to collaborate with the Ani-Care animal shelter in Malheur, County after hearing about their lack of pet food and pet supplies. I wanted to make an impact and share with the community how any small contribution could make a difference. My goal was to help out the manager of this shelter by providing pet food and pet supplies for the animals. I created two fundraisers, as well as reaching out to local pet stores for donations. I decided to help out by promoting my fundraisers to stakeholders to be able to …

Preschool/Early Learning Educational Options, Alok Padhi

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For my capstone project, I created a resource that gathered information about local preschool and early learning options in the Pensacola, FL area. I identified the need for this resource because of the utter lack of resources available to parents seeking to learn about educational options for their children. The resource I created is in the form of a publicly-accessible website that summarizes information about multiple educational institutions in the local area. I supplemented information available online by visiting schools and collecting information in the form of brochures, pamphlets, and business cards. In the end, I think the resource I …

Naturalization Workshop: A Capstone Project, A. H. Diaz

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The capstone project I embarked on focused on the naturalization process and how I could create a plan to better prepare immigrants that are going to begin the process, as well as how I could instill a grandiose sense of confidence in them that will not falter throughout the process. My plan of action consisted of creating a workshop for immigrants that would implement a lesson plan that would prepare and then help improve whatever knowledge of the English language and the tests that come with the naturalization process. A majority of the resources came from the USCIS ``Start a …

Oral Histories Of The Silver Valley In Northern Idaho, Bobbie-Jo Stepro Bighill

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The purpose of my capstone project is to preserve the oral histories of the people who grew up in the Silver Valley of Northern Idaho. It was once an area known as the Silver Capital of the world. More Silver was produced in the small towns in this area nestled between the Connection of Highway 3 and the Montana border on I-90. It earned its name as the Silver Capital of the world before most of the mines closed in the 1980s. At that time, they had produced more Silver than anywhere else in the world. Now there are several …

Improving Childhood Literacy, Amy Williams

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This paper discusses my approach and solution to the problem of declining literacy rates among children in recent years. While there are many contributing factors, COVID lockdown and the reliance on technology have played a part. The approach to this problem was to start within my own community by building a Little Free Library. This library gave children the opportunity to have increased access to reading materials that interest them, free of charge. The children were also incentivized to read by the initiation of a summer reading program that included prizes for completion of a reading log. By generating interest …

Transition A Squadron To Microsoft Teams, David C. Methvin Jr.

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Over the past six weeks, I have embarked on a quest to increase my squadron's productivity by addressing continuity, communication, and file storage. The method by which I addressed these issues is by transitioning the squadron to Microsoft Teams. The transition to Teams required planning, as we have four major sections of the squadron, all working different shifts because we operate 24/7. It required creativity, not only because of the 24/7 ops but also because utilizing Teams was different from the traditional way in which we would solve these sorts of problems. It also required me to get out of …

Moms Support Group: Lack Of Support To Moms Postpartum, Brooke C. Labit

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service learning project is centered on organizing and running a mom support group regularly to provide moms with the chance to assist one another in a safe atmosphere for their recovery following childbirth. Additionally, I created a social media page on the platform found on Instagram for this support group so that moms may communicate frequently and follow and interact to join for upcoming events. The project will benefit the moms by helping them make more meaningful connections and feel more supported during this time. Navigating parenting while maintaining all aspects of your life can be difficult. Going through …

Sleep Savvy Student Solutions Blog, Cassandra M. Hinnenkamp

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service-learning capstone project, Sleep Savvy Student Solutions Blog, addressed the prevalent issue of insufficient quality sleep among college students. Through this blog, the goal is to educate students about the importance of quality sleep and its direct impact on academic success. By providing valuable insights into the connection between sleep and academic performance, practical recommendations and strategies are offered to help college students achieve better sleep. The project is aimed to empower students with knowledge and tools to optimize their sleep patterns, ultimately contributing to improved overall well-being and academic achievements. A follow-up survey was sent to the blog …

Stigma Of Incarceration And Motivation Of Undergraduate Students For Service-Learning, Kapil Sharma

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Incarceration can be a long-lasting, stigmatizing life event that significantly impacts one's life and limits ex-offenders in various aspects of their life. The impact of widespread criminal records can obstruct reentry, economic stability, and full participation in society, whether minor, major, old, or new. The study aims to explore the stigma attached to incarceration and the motivation of undergraduate students for Service-Learning. Based on responses from three semi-structured interviews with students interns of the Records Clearance Project of San Jose State University, it was evident that after completing their sentences, ex-offenders come into many barriers that may prevent them from …

Developing The Food Navigator Role At Everyone's Harvest, Chase Rodriguez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Everyone’s Harvest (EH) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates farmers’ markets. In order to reduce hunger in Monterey County, Everyone's Harvest offers several food assistance programs for low-income people including the Market Match (MM) incentive program which matches CalFresh money, modern day food stamps, dollar for dollar. The problem is that in Monterey County 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 3 children are food insecure. The purpose of the Food Navigator (FN) at EH is to engage with the local community and connect low-income people with food assistance resources, primarily the MM program. This project was a role development …

Online Student Community Building, Pablo A. Muñoz

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Online students are a relatively new concept to the education world. With the rise of the Covid-19 pandemic and the changing needs of the public, online courses have become much more prevalent and popular for several reasons. Online students are at a great disadvantage when it comes to in-person activities such as networking with community members, making friendships, and building relationships with both their peers and professors. The Boise State Treehouse Program has elected to try and combat these problems by introducing an online meeting place like a club setting. The treehouse program has held weekly meetings focused on giving …

Mom's Best Friend, Kaitlyn Lee Marie Dillard

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My project is the exploration of a solution to criticism, judgment and stereotypes mothers face in today’s world. Mothers in today’s world are too often judged, forced into stereotypes; based on whether they are a stay at home mom, or a working mom, and criticized no matter which type they choose to be, there is always something they seem to be doing wrong. Mothers make a significant percentage of the world, and it’s important that they get the credit that they deserve, not judgment on how anyone else thinks they should mother. The point of this project is to show …

Remote Cardiac Device Monitoring: Process Proposal, Sheri L. Houser

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to evaluate an alternative solution for the current process of obtaining data from patients with implanted cardiac devices. The cardiology physicians have been frustrated by our partnership with an external organization to monitor and report information obtained through remote monitoring. Ideally the staff would be clinic employees who would work directly with the patients and physicians to obtain the information necessary for high quality patient care and be accountable to the standards set by our practice. This would be a significant process change that was evaluated from a financial standpoint to demonstrate a positive …

Rag-Tag Sports, Chandler Robbs

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The idea behind my capstone project is to determine how to make a podcast engaging and fulfill a thorough customer journey. The average podcast can lack engagement, integrative branding, and the overall sense of community. By building an interactive website with engaging content, we can build a community that forms a strong brand name and recurring customers. The current Boise community has a lack of strong branded podcasts which reduces the opportunity for entertainment in that field. By creating a newly innovative podcast it can bring an aspect to the community that has not been seen before. The project will …

A Collaborative Solution: Online Safety And Adolescent Trends, Loni L. Whiteman

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This professional action project focused on addressing the risks and needs facing local adolescents in my community. I partnered with several professionals and community members to host a parent night presentation at Timberlake High School. The presentation included an overview of risks and trends affecting our local youth, as well as statewide statistics on social media, mental health, vaping, substance use, and other risky behaviors. At the conclusion of the presentation, attendees were invited to ask questions, network with professionals, peruse the “paraphernalia” table, and collect resource handouts from several different supporting agencies in the local area. The presentation was …

Emotional Health And Wellness Of Restaurant Workers, Jessi M. Strong

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

How might I address the problem of high stress and its impact on restaurant workers’ mental and physical health? Working in a restaurant is one of the most stressful jobs in the world, and the health and safety of our restaurant workers need to be a priority in the industry. The tools and tricks I developed on the website will positively impact restaurant workers. I have compiled information that will be beneficial and fun for people in this industry and encourage them to prioritize their health. Providing them with the knowledge to pull themselves out of negative patterns will allow …

Storyteller: They Speak, I Listen, Sara M. V. Garcia

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Since February of 2022, I have been an intern working at the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, Idaho. Throughout the museum, there are books and binders everywhere that feature individual stories from veterans of World War I, World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and even stories from Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. As an intern, I was able to make these binders and put them together. I was given letters, photos, documents, journals and more and it feels like these veterans are talking to me and telling me their stories. I would not have known …

Employee Onboarding And Continual Training Program, Stephen M. Lee

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The process of training and integrating new employees is a key element to the long term success of any organization. In the past Parker Toyota has had a laissez faire approach to training and new employee onboarding. It was the goal of this project to address those areas of need and establish a new training program to increase employee retention, effectiveness and efficiency.

Employee Training And Development In Traffic Control For Road Construction, James M. Abbott

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project focused on defining each of the hourly positions for a company that specializes in Traffic Control for road construction and gave them official job titles. A comprehensive list of expectations and responsibilities for each position, based on the level of experience in that position, was developed to complement each job title. With these job descriptions, a progression pathway was created for an employee to see what skills they need to acquire and master in order to progress and gain promotions. Additionally, a list of training benchmarks for the employee and supervisor to utilize as a roadmap for advancement …

Horse Rescue Fundraiser, Jennifer D. Fiscus

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For my capstone project, I worked with a non-profit organization in Mountain Home Idaho named Chasing Chances Rescue. This organization gives a loving home to horses when their prior owners can no longer take care of them. Through a short informal survey, I confirmed what I already suspected, very few people in the community are aware of the nonprofit’s presence in the community. Because of this donations are few and far between. This was a wonderful experience because I was able to help raise some funds for an organization that shares my passion for animal care as well as bring …

Cooking With Mami, Arely Lujano

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This action project is a cooking series on social media that I started with my mother. This project approached the problem of me not knowing how to cook. At the same time, I took this opportunity to share it with other people that are interested in cooking Hispanic recipes. Additionally, since I am graduating and moving out, this gave me a chance to bond with my mother. This action project was a mixture of service learning and also professional development.