Courses » Project Highlights

Spring 2017 - AIS 3813: Team Leadership in Agricultural & Life Sciences

Instructor: : Dr. Laura Greenhaw

Academic Department: School of Human Sciences

Project Description: Project Description: Since the spring of 2015, Dr. Greenhaw’s AIS 3813 Team Leadership class has partnered with the Catch-A-Dream Foundation to raise awareness of the foundation and its mission. Catch-A-Dream was founded in 2000 to provide outdoor adventure experiences to children with life-threatening illnesses. AIS 3813 places emphasis on self-assessment, team-building skills, and experiential activities in leadership. The partnership with Catch-A-Dream has allowed students to get hands-on experience working with a local organization to plan and promote events. In spring 2017, students planned and held “REELing for Catch-A-Dream”, a movie night where all proceeds were donated to the non-profit. Both the staff and students enjoy working together (as evidenced by the multi-year partnership) and hope to continue to grow this unique community-university collaboration.

Fall 2016 - ABE 4383: Building Construction

Instructor: : Dr. John Linhoss

Academic Department: Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Project Description: Dr. Linhoss’s Building Construction class had the unique opportunity to partner with Starkville Habitat for Humanity in Fall 2016 to apply their knowledge of framing at a work site. Funds from the mini-grant were used to purchase a light-frame modular demo system that students could assemble and disassemble in the classroom. After learning about the foundation, floor, and wall systems, Dr. Linhoss and the students then went out to a Habitat construction site to observe and participate in the home building for a local family. Plans are to use the model demo in future ABE 4383 classes as well as the gaskets, screws, fasteners, caulk, lumber, and wood finishes the grant funds were able to purchase.

Spring 2016 - TKB 4583: Graphics and Web Design

Instructor: Dr. Sang Joon Lee

Academic Department: Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development

Project Description: Dr. Sang Joon Lee’s TKB 4583: Graphics and Web Design class partnered with United Way of North Central Mississippi (UWNCMS) to address their organization’s need for a new website. The United Way of North Central Mississippi, established in 1979, is an organization comprised of community volunteers from a variety of areas that work to positively impact their communities on a daily basis. They build relationships with other public agencies and work together to make a positive impact and change the lives of community members by providing a wide variety of programs and services. The UWNCMS is accountable to the public for the distribution of their donated funds. They enable people that have donated to decide where their money goes to best benefit their community. The class met with UWNCMS’s Executive Director Candy Crecink and members of the Communications Committee to hear their visions for the new website. UWNCMS’s website had not been updated in a while and their leadership felt a re-design was essential for potential clients and donors. The students divided into groups and worked on designs for a new website for the organization. At the end of the end of the semester, the class presented their proposals to the United Way team who decided which plan they would implement.

Spring 2016 – HI 3343 – Delta History

Instructor: Dr. Jason Ward

Academic Department: Department of History

Project Description: Each spring, Dr. Jason Ward’s HI 3343 Delta History course partners with the MSU’s Maroon Volunteer Center to create a unique learning experience where history comes alive. This year was no exception. Students enrolled in Dr. Ward’s class met once a week to study the history and culture of the Mississippi Delta. Topics covered included the regional importance of agriculture, the civil rights movement, poverty, and education. The class also had the opportunity to hear guest lectures from individuals with expert knowledge of the Delta and its influences. Once spring break arrived, students and staff from MVC travelled to the region to see and experience it firsthand. Part of MSU’s Alternative Spring Break, the Delta Service Trip seeks to “understand the past, see the future, and make an impact”. Participants are able to visit historical and cultural sites that are exclusive to the Delta as well as perform needed service projects for local organizations like the LEAD Center in Sunflower. One of the highlights of each trip is canoeing on the Mississippi River. This year due to recent flooding of the area MSU students gained a different perspective of life on the banks of a large body of water. Quapaw Canoe Company served as the river guides and students were able to provide trash cleanup as well.

Fall 2015 - HS 1533: Apparel Design I

Instructor: Dr. Caroline Kobia

Academic Department: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Focus Area: Youth Development

Project Description:
Dr. Caroline Kobia’s HS 1533: Apparel Design I students designed dresses for a group of girls from the Boys and Girls Club in Starkville, MS. Dr. Kobia matched each student designer up with a little girl from the Boys and Girls Club. The goal of the project was to enable the students to interact with members of the Starkville community and gain hands on experience with dress production. The girls that participated were treated like models throughout the process. The student designers took their measurements and discussed fabrics and colors with the little girls. Each young girl then had a dress sewn that was created specifically for them. The girls attended a runway fashion show on December 5th. They wore the dresses constructed by the student designers and had their hair and make-up done as well. They were able to walk the runway in front of family and friends. After the show, each girl was able to keep her dress.

Fall 2015 - ME 1111: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

Instructors: Dr. Alta Knizley, Mr. Dustin Spayde

Academic Department: Bagley College of Engineering

Focus Area: Economic and Consumer Development

Project Description:
Dr. Alta Knizley and Professor Dustin Spayde taught different sections of ME 1111- Introduction to Mechanical Engineering. However, both teachers decided to take the opportunity to present their material from a service-learning perspective. They split their classes up into smaller teams and partnered them with community organizations in Starkville, MS. Students worked with six different agencies on a variety of problems ranging from interchangeable sign issues, to fitness area design, to economical doghouse plans, and much more. The teams worked all semester with their partner to serve the community and gain hands on knowledge and experience. At the end of the semester, each group made a final presentation at a showcase where they showed pictures and design illustrations.

Fall 2015 - LA 2544: Landscape Architecture Construction I: Materials

Instructor: Mr. Peter Summerlin

Academic Department: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Focus Area: Economic and Consumer Development

Project Description:
Assistant Professor Peter Summerlin’s LA 2544 - Landscape Architecture Construction I: Materials students partnered with The Needmore Community Center to help redesign an outdoor space at their facility. The Landscape Architecture students worked on design proposal and construction documents for a few enhancements with the community center. The course learning objectives included understanding the basic construction principles for various types of pavings, walls, fences, and green infrastructure.  The class used the Needmore Community Center as their project site and students designed an entry plaza, seatwalls, retaining walls, stormwater planters, and raingardens. It was a fun process for the students and generated some interesting conversations about community design. This gave the students an actual site with realistic design problems to negotiate.

Spring 2015 - ART 3913: Intro to Print Production

Instructor: Ms. Cassie Hester

Academic Department: College of Art, Architecture and Design

Focus Area: Economic and Consumer Development

Project Description:
Assistant Professor Cassie Hester’s ART 3913 - Intro to Print Production students partnered with The Crosby Arboretum to give the Arboretum’s marketing materials a new look. The Crosby Arboretum, located in Picayune, Mississippi, is a nationally-renowned native plant conservatory aiming to preserve, protect, and display plants of the Pearl River Drainage Basin ecosystem. Annually, the Arboretum provides environmental and botanical research opportunities, and offers various programs for hundreds of children and members of the public.The students designed t-shirts, buttons, stickers and posters for three of the Arboretum's major annual events: Bugfest, the Piney Woods Heritage Festival, and Forge Day, a blacksmith and metalworking event.

Spring 2015 – AIS 3813: Team Leadership in Agriculture and Life Sciences

Instructor: Dr. Laura Lemons

Academic Department: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Focus Area: Youth Development

Project Description:
Dr. Laura Lemons' AIS 3813: Team Leadership in Agriculture and Life Sciences students researched and proposed fundraisers to help the Catch-A-Dream Foundation make terminally-ill children's wilderness adventure dreams come true. The Catch-A-Dream Foundation provides once-in-a-lifetime dream hunting and fishing trips to terminally-ill American and Canadian youngsters. Students were divided into groups, and asked to propose a fundraising event (one-time or reoccurring) including the focus of the event, timeline, location, and a detailed budget. One of the scenarios, a 5-K run, was developed and implemented by the entire class at the end of the semester. Students raised the entire cost to implement the event ($2,500); about $1,000 was raised in runner entry fees for the organization. A number of local businesses accepted donations for the Foundation throughout April, during an event dubbed “Round up at the Register.”

Spring 2015 – TKB 4583: Graphics and Web Design

Instructor: Dr. Sang Joon Lee

Academic Department: College of Education

Focus Area: Economic and Consumer Development

Project Description:
Dr. Sang Joon Lee’s TKB 4583: Graphics and Web Design students partnered with a local business, W & W Specialties, for their service-learning project. The students were to design a website for their partner to market their services to a broader audience. W & W Specialties is a family-owned company started in 1986, currently employing 30 people. The company manufactures a number of components used by the furniture industry, including suspension pads that keep the items upright in the warehouses as well as protect them in shipping. The students met with Mr. Mike Wilburn, the company owner, early in the semester to learn about the company and to understand what information needed to be available for potential customers on the website. The students were divided into eight groups of three to four, and every team was led by a student Project Manager. The designers were expected to use the website design tools they learned in class including HTML editors, web authoring tools or website builders. Three representatives from the company attended the final course presentations, and picked a website that best suited their needs to be uploaded and used by the company.

Spring 2015 – FLS 1123 - Spanish II

Instructor: Mr. Michael McFadden

Academic Department: College of Arts and Sciences

Focus Area: Youth Development

Project Description:
Once again, Mr. Michael McFadden's Spanish II students partnered with Mrs. Lauren Stegall's first grade students at the Sudduth Elementary school in Starkville. The MSU student teams created simple educational materials in a video format to teach the elementary school students the steps, concepts, and vocabulary needed to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, brush their teeth, eat cereal and milk, and remember the order of the four seasons. The semester begun with a tasting of tres leches, a sweet Latino treat. At the project's end, the videos were showcased, and the youth made maracas, or Latin American rattles used for making music, from plastic eggs, spoons, and rice. The youngsters enjoyed interacting with the MSU students, learning the new words and playing with their new maracas. A number of MSU students commented how much they appreciated the chance to create educational materials for such an enthusiastic audience.

Fall 2014 - CO 4253: Elements of Persuasion

Instructor: Dr. Emily Ryalls

Academic Department: College of Arts and Sciences

Focus Area: Youth Development

Project Description:
Dr. Emily Ryalls’ Elements of Persuasion class partnered with the Stone County Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers, and worked with Dr. Judith Breland of Stone County Extension on a “Bucks for Books” campaign to raise funds to purchase books for the school libraries of Stone County. Dr. Breland envisioned the campaign when a child close to her was unable to meet her Accelerated Reader (AR) requirements due to a shortage of books on her reading level in the school library. The students, divided into groups, researched literacy and created a persuasive campaign to raise the needed money. Each group compiled a portfolio containing goals, strategies, and tactics for a fundraising campaign as well as designed “Bucks for Books” logos, flyers, church bulletin inserts, and Facebook pages. At the end of the semester, students presented their ideas to Dr. Breland, as well as other members of the Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers.

Fall 2014 – HS 1533: Apparel Design I

Instructor: Dr. Caroline Kobia

Academic Department: College of Agriculture and Life Scineces

Focus Area: Youth Development

Project Description:
Dr. Caroline Kobia’s HS 1533: Apparel Design I students designed and sew dresses for a group of young girls from Louisville, Mississippi, who lost their belongings in a recent devastating tornado. MSU students took measurements of their models and crafted unique dresses minding the structure, fabric, and decoration of each garment. Students recorded videos of their progress and kept reflective journals. They also educated the girls about the dress design and sewing process; each girl learned about a different part of her dress, for example, the zipper or the hem. The young ladies showcased their new apparel during a reciprocal fashion show in December, and each group presented the information learned during the semester.

Fall 2014 – AIS 4503/6503: International Agriculture Education

Instructor: Dr. Susan Seal

Academic Department: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Focus Area: Economic and Consumer Development

Project Description:
Dr. Susan Seal's AIS 4503/6503: International Agriculture Education students collaborated with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) who is the Mississippi coordinator of the Southern US Trade Association (SUSTA). The students, divided into four groups, researched and developed a list of over 125 agriculture - related businesses in Mississippi who could potentially benefit from SUSTA’s services. At the end of the semester, the class gave a presentation and provided a written report to MDAC that included logistical advantages and disadvantages that Mississippi agricultural businesses face in regard to exporting, as well as overall findings and lessons learned from the project, and recommendations for MDAC and SUSTA.

Fall 2014 – FLS 1113: Spanish I

Instructor: Mr. Michael McFadden

Academic Department: College of Arts and Sciences

Focus Area: Youth Development

Project Description:
Mr. Michael McFadden's Spanish I students partnered with Mrs. Lauren Stegall's first grade students at the Sudduth Elementary school in Starkville to share their love of Spanish language and the Latino culture. The learning was reciprocal: the youngsters learned simple Spanish phrases and practiced the concept of sequential tasks, or tasks that are completed in steps, one after the other; the MSU students learned how to create simple educational materials for a given audience, and the basics of short film production. Spanish I students guided the youngsters through Spanish videos in making lemonade and shooting a goal in soccer. The collaboration begun with a "meet and greet" mini-fiesta of chips and salsa during which the university students had a chance to interact with the intended audience for their films. The project culminated with an interactive presentation of the videos to the children.

Summer 2014 - EDL 8663: Human Resources Leadership

Instructor: Dr. Penny Wallin

Academic Department: Leadership and Foundations

Focus Area: Youth Development

Project Description:
The 2013-2014 Educational Leadership Cohort for MSU Meridian formed three groups of 5-6 each to work with Dr. Joseph White, Superintendent of Forest Municipal School District, Ms. Jackie Pollock, Superintendent of Kemper School District, and Dr. Suzanne Hawley, Superintendent of Quitman School District to create guides for the state-mandated Professional Learning Community (PLC) model. Professional Learning Communities are groups of new and seasoned educators formed for the purpose of exchanging knowledge, past experiences, and new ideas in order to generate ways to solve particular challenges or generally enhance student learning in a given educational setting. PLC members focus on developing approaches which address the needs of all students, promote the culture of collaboration, and data-driven decision-making to increase the teaching effectiveness. Each Service-Learning group developed a custom PLC guide for their districts. All three superintendents attended the presentations on July 21 at MSU Extension Center in Forest.

Spring 2014 - Art 1133: Design II

Instructor: Mr. Neil Callander

Academic Department: Department of Art

Focus Area: Economic and Consumer Development

Project Description:
Ms. Vicki Burnett (a Mississippi artist and Chair of the Starkville Area Arts Council Oktibbeha County Barn Quilt Trail) partnered with Mr. Neil Callander’s class to design barn quilts to be installed on buildings in Oktibbeha County as a part of a new barn quilt trail. A barn quilt, much like a fabric quilt, acts as both a commemoration to and a reminder of heritage and tradition. For Mr. Callander’s class, the project was three-fold. First, students individually researched influences for the design and created mock-ups of their quilt squares. Second, students worked in groups and collaboratively combined their ideas to design and create 8’ x 8’ barn quilts. Finally, students reflected on the project and provided feedback to their fellow students.

Spring 2014 - COE 8740: School Counseling Practicum

Instructor: Dr. Cheryl Justice

Academic Department: Department of Counseling & Educational Psychology

Focus Area: Health Promotion and Nutrition

Project Description:
This class focused on the development of students who can practice in a variety of professional settings including K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, clinical mental health settings, college counseling centers, and rehabilitation counseling settings. The students worked with their community partner, the Contact Helpline in Columbus, Mississippi. The helpline is a 24-hour, non-profit telephone service that is available to anyone who needs someone to listen, care, and provide detailed information about agencies and organizations that can address their problems. While participating in this project, students gained the knowledge and skills needed in crisis intervention, including self-awareness, sensitivity to others, and skills needed to relate to diverse individuals. Students learned how to assess and manage suicide risk and made appropriate referrals. They developed an understanding of the ways in which family, school, and community can collaborate together to meet the needs of others, and they promoted teamwork with the larger community.

Spring 2014 - LA 4855: Landscape Architecture Capstone Studio

Instructor: Ms. Elizabeth Payne

Academic Department: Department of Landscape Architecture

Focus Area: Economic and Consumer Development

Project Description:
Capstone studio allows landscape architecture students to synthetize the knowledge and experiences acquired during their undergraduate education. The students work individually with real clients, and go through all the steps of a professional design process: inventory and analysis of the site, understanding client’s needs and wants, and generating a feasible design solution. One of the students proposed a design for the Golden Triangle Rare and Endangered Species Sanctuary in West Point, MS. His community partners and advisors included the Mayor and the Chief Administrative Officer of West Point as well as a local artist and a business owner. His project aimed to enrich the lives of WestPoint’s citizens while improving the natural habitat. The proposal included an amphitheater suitable for outdoor performances, a constructed wetland to detain and clean the surrounding area’s storm water, a community garden and a farmer’s market to increase access to fresh produce and to bring the neighbors together, a sculpture garden, and a dog park for community’s enjoyment.

Spring 2014 - IE 4773: Systems Simulation I

Instructor: Dr. Allen Greenwood

Academic Department: Industrial Engineering Department

Focus Area: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Project Description:
Dr. Allen Greenwood’s class collaborated with the North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC). The goal of the project was to improve the patient experience during their hospital stay when undergoing a surgical procedure. From intake to recovery, students were shown the physical space of the hospital and learned about the number of personnel required for various procedures. Armed with this information, the students created simulations of the process in order to identify areas that could be made more efficient. The ultimate goal was to decrease time between procedures so that the experience is more efficient, smooth, and cost-effective both for the patient and the hospital. The hospital administrators were pleased with the outcomes and look forward to putting the students’ suggestions into practice.

Fall 2013 - IE 3123: Industrial Ergonomics

Instructor: Dr. Lesley Strawderman

Academic Department: Bagley College of Engineering

Focus Area: STEM

Project Description:
In this course, students learned the basics of ergonomic design and how to analyze, design, and re-design ergonomically correct workplaces. The students applied their academic lessons to the analysis of various processes at N&W Farms in Vardaman, Mississippi. Students analyzed operations such as harvesting, packing, storing, and shipping of sweet potatoes. They shared their ideas with the community partner and with various members of the MSU campus in a final project showcase.

Fall 2013 - EDX 8393: Seminar in Seminar in Education for Individuals with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders

Instructor: Dr. Sandy Devlin

Academic Department: Counseling and Education Psycology

Focus Area: Youth Development

Project Description:
Students in this course learned about various emotional and behavioral disorders, what factors influence these disorders, and methods used to teach students with these disorders. Students completed research and compiled interventions pertaining to various disorders. This information was presented to 4-H agents across the state so that they are better equipped to serve children with special needs in their programs.