Service Learning Commons^™

Supporting A Community Of Pets, Noah C. Madden

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This capstone project highlights a community's efforts to support in-need pets, particularly dogs and cats, as well as their owners. For this project, I organized and executed a multiple-week food drive focused specifically on collecting pet food. The objective of this project was to help diminish the rate of food insecurity found in pets within the Boise community, as well as bring a fresh sense of hope to pet owners who may be facing financial hardship or other personal challenges. Over nearly a month’s time, my pet food drive was able to raise over 750 pounds of food for those …

Fundraising For Local Nonprofits: Raising Money To Grow Our Roots-Chrysalis Women's Transitional Living, Brent Steven Beckwith

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project was a partnership between myself and Chrysalis Women's Transitional Living in Boise, ID. The goal of this project was to raise awareness of the organization in the Boise, Meridian, and Nampa communities as well as the rest of the Treasure Valley. In addition to raising awareness, other goals included raising a financial donation amount of $5,000, item and furniture donations.

Missionary Of Faith: Uniting And Educating Catholic Youth Under God, Joshua Ryan Mcgarvie

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Religion, as discussed further in the following research, is clearly not the focus of many people’s lives in our society today. In my opinion, younger generations should be taught Catholicism to develop a solid moral foundation at a young age. For my capstone project, I volunteered to teach a Religious Education (RE) class to 6th-8th graders in my local parish. Through the development of a more robust and engaging curriculum, specifically designed to teach the most profound concepts of the Church, I was able to further the cause of bringing Catholicism to these younger members of society. As a leader …

Cda And Continuing Dental Education On Company Time, Christopher Arnold Ponte

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

As a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), the obligation to obtain Continuing Dental Education (CDE) credits to maintain one’s certification is an annual occurrence. Through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), annual renewals for CDAs consist of a fee, CPR certification, and one’s CDE acquisition. Working for a nonprofit community health center, Terry Reilly Health Services, I find it crucial to be able to share with my colleagues resources on finding CDE opportunities. Thus this led to the creation of my CDA quickstart guidebook to ensure staff have the correct resources for pursuing or maintaining a CDA certification. It is a …

Creating Homes For Ethiopia's Future, Roxanna M. Dempsay

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Creating Homes for Ethiopia’s Future is a fundraiser project inspired by my travels to Ethiopia and opportunities to work with Maji’s Miracle, a nonprofit organization in Meridian, Idaho, advocating for vulnerable youth who have aged out of orphanages in Ethiopia. This capstone project was narrowly focused on one specific portion of the Maji’s Miracle intake process identified as a point where having a restricted reserve fund would allow the organization to act more efficiently to get youth into safe, secure housing, reduce delays and pressure on the organization and youth leaving orphanages, and eliminate concerns for potential homelessness while awaiting …

Financial Wellness For Recent College Graduates, Haley N. Westenskow

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service learning project focused on financial resources that are available to individuals that have no cost or have a minimal cost for the resource. There is a plethora of resources that are available, but it can be difficult or overwhelming to locate those resources, let alone know if they are a reputable resource. My project was to take some of those available resources and create a “one stop shop” for a recent college graduate to access. The webpage has several entries that highlight some of the reputable resources that are available, so new graduates have the ability to start …

Community Car Care Workshop, Zachary Davis Hunsuck

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This project aims to fill a notable deficiency in fundamental automobile maintenance knowledge within the local community, a deficiency that has resulted in increased repair expenses and potential hazards to safety. The proposed approach entails the creation and execution of an interactive workshop that specifically targets fundamental car maintenance activities such as oil changes, tire rotations, and brake inspections. This workshop utilizes a service-learning approach, actively involving the community and partnering with local auto repair shops and other relevant parties. The program seeks to equip community members with essential skills in basic car maintenance through interactive learning and practical demonstrations. …

Improving The Workplace: One Procedure At A Time, Hailey Higgs

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project addresses the lack of formal procedures and employee training at Realms. Realms is a new bar, arcade, and venue in Boise Idaho where I am currently employed as the bartender. During my time there so far I have observed the lack of written procedures, an employee manual, or an official training process. As an employee, I have witnessed these shortcomings at Realms result in various mistakes which ultimately negatively affect my main stakeholder, Tanner Nielsen, the owner and operator of Realms among my fellow employees and the Realms customer base. In order to improve the efficiency, clarity, …

From D1 Athlete To… What’S Next?, Makayla Hansen

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

After going through a career ending injury as a D1 volleyball player I am finding my new identity. I share my experiences as a collegiate athlete, hard times I have gone through, and a passion for learning something new. The focus of this blog is trying new activities and potential hobbies to fill my time.

Offensive Security Techniques Using Kali Linux, Kurtis Brent Kenady

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For my capstone project, I built a cybersecurity website that provides practical resources and hacking tools for any cybersecurity student or enthusiast. This website details the exact environments and steps needed to perform strategies including man-in-the-middle, SSH brute-forcing, wireless network password cracking, and other attacks. It includes complete instructions for getting started in offensive security and includes other valuable cybersecurity information, such as secure coding practices and Security+ certification insights. It shows complete instructions for start-to-finish of downloading the necessary operating system for performing attacks, Kali Linux.

More With Less: How Visual Media Can Improve Training, Matthew R. Adams

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The human mind is only able to process a finite amount of information. Learning new processes can invoke significant stress levels. By applying modern research into brain processing and tailoring visual media to capitalize on those processes we can reduce overall stress while optimizing the learning process expediting information uptake and application.

Hunter's Vegan Cooking, Hunter L. Wahl

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This is a project that provides recipes for foods that are nationally loved, but in a plant-based way. I have been vegan for two and a half years now and I have an extensive background in cooking, as I worked in some very fast-paced kitchens throughout Boise as a young adult. These recipes are designed to not only provide recipes for those who already follow a plant-based lifestyle, but also maybe urge others who have no dietary restrictions to give vegan meals a shot. These recipes could also be a saving grace for those who have food allergens and just …

Empowering Voices: Designing An Employee Feedback System At Like Media, Jackson A. Russo

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This paper outlines the design and implementation of an innovative employee feedback system at Like Media. The project integrates principles from organizational psychology, web development, and user experience design to create a user-friendly, anonymous feedback platform. Key findings indicate the system's success in promoting transparency, enhancing internal communication, and fostering a positive work culture. This paper explores the methodology, development process, results, and potential future implications of the project.

Bridging The Gapp, Betty Trandem

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The German American Partnership Program (GAPP) is a short-term high school student exchange program that provides students from both countries to gain perspectives from alternative culture exchanges. The GAPP program is not a school sponsored club or organization. This service-learning project involves assisting coordinators by creating resources to educate individuals regarding cultural and language opportunities and provides support to an already overburdened education staff. Communicating expectations and cultural information allows students to travel safely and remain open to new perspectives.

Improving The Work Quality In The Kitchen Using A Cook Checklist, Tim S. Anderson

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This paper represents the work of putting together a checklist and implementing it in a kitchen workplace in order to ensure all items are done and all cooks are able to rely on each other to relieve any additional stress from the job.

Redefining Cybersecurity Approaches In Small Businesses: A Journey From Digital To Tangible Solutions, Brooke J. Lacey

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This capstone project addresses the critical need for enhancing cybersecurity awareness in small businesses. Despite the rise in cyber threats, there's a notable gap in proactive measures, with the industry often resorting to reactive, lazy solutions. The project involved creating a comprehensive cybersecurity toolkit and training programs, tailored to small businesses. Despite initial enthusiasm, the project journey revealed a prevalent industry attitude of reactivity and a general apathy among small businesses towards preemptive cybersecurity measures. This paper discusses the innovative approach taken, the results, and the lessons learned in attempting to shift the paradigm from reactive to proactive cybersecurity in …

Employee Recognition Program, Michael E. Brady

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This semester, I focused on developing an employee recognition program for my organization as a capstone project. This initiative aims to bring substantial value by acknowledging and appreciating the hard work, dedication, and outstanding performance of our employees. The program is designed to enhance morale, satisfaction, and motivation, fostering a culture of appreciation and loyalty. Its implementation is expected to result in increased productivity, improved job performance, and higher employee retention rates, thereby maintaining a stable workforce.

To ensure the effectiveness of the program, I considered key elements such as defining clear criteria for recognition aligned with organizational goals, timely …

Para Educator And Classified Staff Study: Hacker Middle School, Cierra Hunter Donlee Webb

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The following research and data collection was conducted over the course of 7 weeks during the capstone period of the authors final course for their Interdisciplinary Professional Studies degree. The following content is the interviews, data collection, and experiences of the author on their journey of this project. It establishes the wants and needs of the staff at a local middle school in Mountain Home Idaho. The author’s goal was to establish a foundational path for improvement and communication when it pertains to the classified and para educator staff at the local middle school and how this establishment could be …

Frontline Leadership: Strategies And Tactics For First Responders, Dan P. Ziem

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For the workshop, I plan to provide a comprehensive three to four-hour session focusing on the principles of extreme ownership—a leadership approach that has proven successful, particularly in high-pressure environments. Drawing inspiration from the renowned philosophy advocated by former Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, the workshop will dive into realistic strategies for effective leadership. To ensure relatability to the First Responder field, I will tailor the content to the unique challenges and environments faced by those in law enforcement at all levels. Real-world examples and personal experiences will be included, making the training not only educational but also …

Book Club For Communication: Bringing The Four Agreements To A Trauma Recovery Group, Taylor Renee Dobson

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service learning project started a book club within the Idaho Community Outreach Behavior Services (COBS) program; a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, that aims to help victims of sex-trafficking get the trauma care they need and helps them with a safer lifestyle and living situation, if necessary. The book The Four Agreements was provided for each woman to read the assigned weekly section, and come to the group each week prepared to discuss what they read and how it relates to them personally. Participation in an open discussion would allow each person to share while also following the theme of the …