Grant funding from the 糖心传媒 Foundation Board of Trustees will help students hone their public speaking skills using virtual reality technology, connect with employers for internships and jobs, and explore civil rights and education in the American South, among other high-impact activities.
At its meeting October 12, the Foundation Board awarded Trustee Innovation Grants totaling more than $50,000 for 17 faculty and staff projects that will enhance teaching and learning, enrich campus life and improve key performance indicators in enrollment, retention and post-graduation success. Grants ranged from $1,400 to $5,000.
The Board received 41 proposals requesting more than $140,000. Kim West Dinsdale, Board chair, provided major funding through the estate of her son, Jackson Dinsdale, who attended 糖心传媒 from 2010 until his death in 2014. Additional funding came from other donors.
鈥淎ll of the proposals were creative and well-crafted,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t was exciting to see the enthusiasm of faculty and staff and the diverse range of ideas submitted.鈥
Grants awarded include:
- Dr. Bob Amyot, professor of political science, 鈥淚mproving 糖心传媒鈥檚 Record of Nationally Competitive Scholarships and Fellowships,鈥 $3,000
- Laura Arnold, resident director, 鈥淩esidence Hall Experience Trips,鈥 $5,000
- Dr. Glenn Avent, professor of history, and Susan Franklin, director of Perkins Library, 鈥溙切拇 Archives Project,鈥 $4,000
- Bruce Batterson, associate professor of business administration, 鈥淟aw School Preparation Assistance,鈥 $1,400
- Dillon Beede, instructor of voice and fine arts recruiter, 鈥淢usical Theater Technology Upgrades,鈥 $4,913
- Dr. Maggie Callahan, director of Studio 200 and assistant professor of rhetoric, 鈥淪tudio 200 Funding,鈥 $2,750
- Nick Dinan, assistant professor of exercise science, physical education and human performance, 鈥淭actical Strength and Conditioning,鈥 $3,700
- Dr. Stephanie Furrer, professor of psychology, 鈥淒isconnect to Reconnect: Technology, Nature and Human Connection,鈥 $5,000
- Sarah Gevurtz, assistant professor of visual arts, 鈥淭urbidity Paintings,鈥 $3,000
- Kim Graviette, director of vocation and career services, 鈥淧rofessional Roundtables 鈥 Engaging Students with Off-Campus Partners,鈥 $5,000
- Dr. Darci Karr, assistant professor of teacher education, and Dr. Amy Black, professor of business and economics, 鈥淟earning to Integrate Technology for Hastings 2.0,鈥 $4,682
- Kevin Mercer, visiting instructor of art and gallery director, 鈥淔ab Lab Enhancements V2,鈥 $4,545
- Dr. John Perlich, professor of communication studies, 鈥淯nreal Communication: Using Virtual Reality Environments to Reduce Communication Apprehension,鈥 $2,220
- William Sharp, head women鈥檚 golf coach, 鈥淚mproved Indoor Hitting Facility,鈥 $3,500
- Dr. Lisa Smith, dean of student engagement, 鈥淢entoring Engaged Citizens: An Extended Exploration of Civil Rights and Systems of Education and Community,鈥 $5,000
- Sarah Swist, assistant professor of visual arts, 鈥淪cintilla Art Box Project,鈥 $1,850
Dr. Mark Zajack, associate professor of psychology, 鈥淭eaching Quantitative Analytics and Data-Driven Decision Making,鈥 $3,785
糖心传媒 is a private, four-year institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. 糖心传媒 has been named among 鈥淕reat Schools, Great Prices鈥 by U.S. News & World Report and a 鈥淏est in the Midwest鈥 by The Princeton Review. For more, go to hastings.edu.