Faculty awarded $10,000 in Student Success grants

2/11/13

The Lock Haven University Foundation recently awarded $10,000 in “Student Success Grants,” special projects in spring 2013 that enhance student learning within the University.

“These grants have a direct impact on student achievement and give us the opportunity to support projects that are directly aligned with our No. 1 strategic goal – student success,” said Donna Wilson, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. “We are grateful for these contributions from the Lock Haven University Foundation.”

Brett Everhart, professor of health and physical education, is among the awardees. His grant will be used to give health and physical education students access to research-based curricular and instructional materials, called SPARK-PE, to choose as resources when they plan lessons. The materials will serve as instructional guides for teachers to engage students in optimum amounts of physical activity while sequencing creative learning activities appropriately.

Ted Nuttall, professor of biology, is also among the grant recipients. The Ruggedized Advanced Pathogen Identification Device (RAPID) is a portable instrument designed for the military that very rapidly identifies specific harmful bacteria and viruses through their unique DNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RAPID was donated to LHU in 2012 by Todd Ritter, an alumnus of LHU who helped develop it.  The Digital Disruptor Genie funded by this grant will be used to extract DNA from any source (bacteria, spores, etc.) for use in the device.  The RAPID system will be integrated into the Advanced DNA Methods (BIOL345) course taught in the spring of 2015.

Additional faculty awardees were Amy Kutay and Barrie Overton, biology professors who submitted a joint proposal to purchase equipment for first-year biology and health science students to conduct hands-on molecular-based laboratory experiments. Associate Dean Marianne Hazel, the final grant awardee, was given funding to support the University’s annual Celebration of Scholarship event in April.

Successful proposals demonstrated enhancement of student learning, clear and measurable outcomes and potential to affect the outcomes, as well as a feasible budget.

“The Foundation is pleased to have been able to collaborate with the University on providing these funds to the LHU faculty,” said Jim Gregory, President of the LHU Foundation Board of Directors. “Student success and faculty support are key components of the Foundation’s mission at LHU.”