Service Learning Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

Racializing Service (Learning): A Critical Content Analysis Of Service Learning Syllabi, Tania Mitchell, Carmine Perrotti

Race and Pedagogy Journal: Teaching and Learning for Justice

This study examines service learning pedagogy and its use of racialized terms to frame service. Through a critical content analysis using 270 syllabi from 193 four-year U.S. institutions with the Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, this study explores how the language used in service learning syllabi perpetuates and sustains racialized hierarchies in community engagement experiences.

The Silent Illness, Morgan R. Wood-Buchanan

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project is all based on mental health, specifically depression. I created a blog based on my own personal story, in hopes I could reach people in our community who may be personally struggling with mental health or know someone who is struggling. The purpose of my project was to be a voice for those who feel as if they have lost theirs. Mental health is a taboo subject even though therapy has come a long way in becoming normalized. The blog is a safe place for those who feel the courage to share their story or struggles with …

Pregnancy And The Effects Of Mental And Physical Support From Others, Kira M. Koenig

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service learning project researched and provided an online support group for women in which pregnancy, postpartum and other motherhood topics were discussed. Often women don’t have the support they need during pregnancy, especially from those that have experienced what they have. I created an online support group through Facebook and was able to reach a total of thirty-eight women. The link to this support group was shared through social media, word of mouth and discussed with my female patients. The blog included mental support, exercises for women and example meal plans.

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 …

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 …

A Blog On Building A Backyard Garden, Carrie N. Mccashland

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project involved building a backyard garden and writing a blog to include my innovative approach to gardening. In the past few years, there have been disruptions in the food supply chain and the price of food has skyrocketed due to inflation. I can teach people how to grow food their family will enjoy in their own backyard. Fewer people will have to depend on the food provided in the grocery store. People will have a greater knowledge of what they are eating and how it was made. Those people who live in more rural areas will not have …

Amber's Lyrical Rite, Amber E. Salum Cruz

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to get my message and story out to the world online where anyone can access it and read it. What inspired me to write my project was I had a few people encourage me to do so. I worked on this project hoping to complete it by the due date, I actually finished a week early and turned it in. The methods used to complete this project was writing I had been writing since high school as well as the kindle Create writing app. Essentially you write a book and edit and upload it …

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 …

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.

Technology And The Leading Of Learning: The Use And Effects Of Technology In The Classroom, Eric M. Hannah

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

In the present research paper, the focus is on exploring the various methods of collecting data through technological means and examining the views of 6th-grade students and teachers on the utilization of technology within the classroom setting. As a researcher without a background in education, this study seeks to understand the transformative influence of technology on contemporary learning, highlighting its positive outcomes for teachers, students, and those participating in remote education. The significant increase in the adoption of technology, particularly during and following the recent pandemic, has prompted schools and educators globally to reassess their instructional approaches, striving to create …

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 …

Improving Family Readiness At Camp Rudder 6th Ranger Training Battalion, Amy M. Barnes

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This capstone project met the needs of 6th Ranger Training Battalion(RTB), Family Readiness Group(FRG) members and their families. The resource created teaches new members about the area, mission of the organization, training cycle, shares sample schedules, highlights family opportunities to be involved, and shares tips of how to be resilient through the busy schedule.

Pre-Med Mentorship Program Proposal, William T. Wallick

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This service-learning project surveyed undergraduate students as well as Boise State alumni about a prospective Pre-Med mentorship program being implemented at Boise State University. Aspiring medical school students at Boise State University lack the connections and relationships with upperclassmen and alumni to help prepare them to be competitive applicants. My project proposes a Pre-Med mentorship program to be implemented at Boise State University in the fall semester of the 2024 school year.

Gauging Interest: Bas/Ips Student Collaboration Group, Tracy J. Meunier

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

An initiative to launch a student-led collaboration group within the BAS/IPS program aimed to provide valuable feedback to the program’s directors was recently put into place. To launch this new initiative in the intended Fall 2023 semester, the program's directors require vital information from prospective students. This paper is an overview of the approach taken to understand why or why not students would be interested in participating in a student-led group that would benefit the program they are enrolled in. A survey was sent intended to provide responses with valuable feedback to the decision-makers regarding the new student collaboration group. …

Financial Advisory Firm: Mark's Financial Solutions, Mark Y. Foruria

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This business plan project provides research on financial advisor firms, financial education and literacy and money management in American society. There are numerous tools and resources available to become financially independent and literate. The problem is that all this information does not reach the communities that need them the most (low-income), especially the youth because it is not taught in school. To address the financial illiteracy issue among the American population I created a business plan, offering the financial services the people need most. At the same time, I created this capstone project doing some research on people's financial health …

Coach's Manual, Penn M. Peterson

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For my capstone project, I chose to write a coach’s manual. I have coached in our district for five years now, and one of the glaring things that hindered me at times was the fact that I did not have anything to base my decisions or actions off of. When I thought about what we really needed that would benefit the most stakeholders within my district/workplace, I knew that this was it. Having a manual that sets expectations, mission statements, vision, rules, policies, contact information, etc. would greatly improve our ability to do our jobs correctly. Accountability for coaches, administrators, …