Faculty grants are awarded annually for up to $1,000 and are intended to assist faculty in implementing projects that allow students to explore and respond to important issues in the community. The projects may be part of a regular academic course or be a special project that involves students from multiple academic departments. The following are grantees for 2015-16.
Civic Participation Grantees 2015
Dr. Mary Perkinson, School of Music
PARTNERS IN PERFORMANCE: UNO music faculty and OAYO music director, Aviva Segall, will visit Central High School and Thomas Jefferson High School on a weekly basis to work with orchestra students on technique, musicality, and leadership.
Dr. Wilma Kulhman, Oxbow Writing Project
OXBOW WRITING PROJECT: Nine through 14 year olds come together for a retreat where they are able to learn from experts on writing. They are given the opportunity to honor their work, raise their self-confidence and trust their abilities as writing and thinking people.
Dr. Matt Germonprez, College of Information Science and Technology
SOCIAL AND SCIENCE: Students will explore the intersection between social media and scientific inquiry. Students will address the critical topic of contamination of watersheds with agrichemical runoff.
Dr. Amanda Duffy Randall, Grace Abbott School of Social Work
TRANSGENDER YOUTH EDUCATION: The school social worker is often the first mental health professional transgender youth have access to and it is imperative for them to be trained on how to assist the youth. A survey will be administered at the School Social Worker Association of Nebraska (SSWAN) regional conference to assess current knowledge and awareness of school social workers.
Ms. Patty Carlson, Grace Abbott School of Social Work
SOBER INDIAN | DANGEROUS INDIAN FILM SHOWING: Awareness for the plight of Native Americans in/near Whiteclay, NE will be enhanced through the showing of a documentary titled, “Sober Indian | Dangerous Indian.” The filmmaker will attend the showing to lead a discussion on the issues raised in the documentary.
Dr. Brian C. McKevitt, Department of Psychology
READING INTERVENTIONS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH: This project will improve the academic performance of youth attending Westside Boys and Girls Club afterschool programs. UNO students will mentor youth in grades 1-3 to help with their reading skills.
Dr. Lisa Scherer, Volunteer Program Assessment
VPA AND CASA ASSOCIATION: Volunteer Program Assessment at UNO will work to evaluate the CASA volunteer’s second trauma and its effect on volunteer engagement, burnout, and intentions to quit.
Dr. Alan Kolok, Nebraska Watershed Network
LIL’ MISS ATRAZINE: Students living near the Vermillion and Illinois River will be supplied with water quality testing and informational materials to test the water quality near their homes.
Ms. Ferial Pearson & Dr. Becky Pasco, Teacher Education Department
DIVERSITY EDUCATION: Students will attend professional developmental activities such as conferences, films, speakers, etc. that relate to understanding diversity and supporting an inclusive community within the Teacher Education Department.
Dr. Connie Schaffer, Teacher Education Department
ECONOMIC EDUCATION SUMMIT: This summit enhances UNO secondary education candidates’ understanding of economic principles and the role of the economy on domestic and global issues. Students will learn how to incorporate the principles they learn into their classrooms.
Dr. Kathy Danielson, Teacher Education Department
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL WRITING: Students at Compass Ministries after school program will write their autobiographies after reading children’s books that model autobiographical writing. Students in the “Teaching Writing Throughout the Curriculum” class at UNO will lead a lesson on autobiographical writing to these students.
Dr. Lisa Kelly-Vance, School Psychology
JUMPSTART SUMMER READING: Families will learn about the importance of reading at an ice cream social and hear from an educational speaker from the Henry Doorly Zoo. Then the students will receive backpacks with books and school supplies for having perfect attendance.
Ms. Christi Krehbiel, Teacher Education Department
TEACHER RECRUITMENT: A 5-10 minute video will be produced that encourages students of color to see themselves in the role of a teacher when they are considering career options. This will help increase the number of teachers of color in the classroom over time as this number does not currently reflect the number of students of color in the classroom.
Dr. Debora Wisneski, Early Childhood Education
KANEKO-UNO COLLABORATIVE PLAY: KANEKO is hosting a three-month program focused on, “Intentional Play.” Students and volunteers will create play experiences, write curriculum plans, implement the plans at KANEKO, and share their knowledge of the benefits of play in early childhood with community participants.
Dr. Ethel Williams, School of Public Administration
ENGAGING MPA NONPROFIT STUDENTS TO SERVE ON NONPROFIT BOARDS: Students will be able to apply for intern board positions. These positions will last for a pre-determined time. Students will learn real-world experience of serving on a non-profit board which may serve to encourage them to do this in the future.