The Engaged Scholar Fall 2024
Community Engagement: An Essential Coug Experience
Community engagement at WSU is essential to fostering critical thinking, nurturing a sense of belonging, and supporting students on their path to graduation. This fall, the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) worked with 77 faculty members, involving over 4,800 students in 116 courses in community-engaged learning. WSU Pullman students volunteered more than 28,000 hours during the fall semester alone. This highlights the dedication of both faculty and students to personal growth and applying classroom knowledge in real-world situations. Their service not only enhances academic development but also strengthens connections with the campus, peers, and local communities. The benefits of community-engaged learning are best expressed by our students, such as Dylan, a first-year student at WSU Pullman:
Volunteering taught me more than I could have ever learned inside a classroom setting. I learned how to talk to people of all ages, listen to people's stories, and care for many diverse types of people.
- Dylan, First Year Student
We are always eager to hear new ideas, engage in conversations, and brainstorm collaboration opportunities with our colleagues in student and academic affairs! If you're interested in exploring the CCE’s service-learning program, discussing student success initiatives, or developing new partnerships, we would love to connect with you!
STEAM Nights at Pullman Public Schools
Students from Annie Wilhelm’s MATH 431/531 course, Intersections of Culture and Math, made math exciting by leading fun, engaging activities for elementary students and their families during STEAM nights at all four Pullman elementary schools. Sponsored by Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), the Pullman School District's STEAM Nights introduce young students to hands-on activities, from math games to computer programming and circuits. Although MATH 431/531 is designed for future secondary math teachers, the students eagerly brought elementary math activities to each STEAM Night. Here are some takeaways from the MATH 431/531 students:
The most common reactions [to the “would you rather” task] were looking at their parents for help, looking at me, or just powering through “fails” till they got an answer. This made me wonder how their in-class interactions and how they were raised take part in their problem-solving skills. I would argue that one’s perceived home culture directly plays in how the kids approached the problem because some kids would want to impress their parents, others were timid to be wrong, and some came without their parents for the fun of it. Overall, this experience was beneficial because I got a better sense of the level elementary school kids are at and how their mannerisms play into their critical thinking.
- MATH 431/531 Student
I had a very good time at the STEAM night, and it reminded me that it is super fun to watch people learn about mathematics in ways that they have not ever seen before. I am glad I was given the opportunity.
- MATH 431/531 Student
COMSTRAT 485 and the Kenworthy Theatre
Students from Nicole O’Donnell’s COMSTRAT 485: Public Relations Management and Campaigns class teamed up with the historic Kenworthy Performing Arts Center in Moscow, ID, to host movie nights aimed at boosting ticket sales.
The first group organized a Pitch Perfect movie night with support from The Corner Club, a local bar that funded the movie purchase. They encouraged ticket holders to visit The Corner Club after the movie and promoted Pitch Perfect-themed drinks created for the event. The students also designed social media posts and flyers for the Kenworthy. Their efforts paid off, with over 100 tickets sold and more than $1,000 earned in concession sales.
The second group hosted a Breakfast Club movie night, sponsored by the Moscow restaurant, The Breakfast Club. They also created social media posts and flyers to distribute on the WSU and University of Idaho campuses. This event resulted in 120 ticket sales and over $1,000 in concession revenue for the Kenworthy.
ME 415 and Disability Action Center
Mechanical engineering students in Nandita Biswas’ ME 415: Engineering Design course collaborated with the Disability Action Center in Moscow, ID, to remodel the center’s wheelchair obstacle course. This course educates the public about the challenges wheelchair users face by allowing able-bodied individuals to navigate it in a wheelchair.
The students designed the obstacle course to replicate common issues wheelchair users encounter daily, such as ramps, doors, and surfaces like grass, potholes, cords, low-hanging objects, and bumps. They installed ADA-compliant handrails and ramps using custom brackets and lightweight aluminum materials, making the course easy for two people to lift and assemble. The entire obstacle course can be disassembled with just an Allen wrench and a rubber mallet. Each wing nut and bolt is labeled, and a user manual was created to guide easy assembly.
Vicki Leeper, the Disability Action Center Outreach Coordinator, attended the unveiling of the obstacle course. She mentioned that the center sets up obstacle courses at public events at least a dozen times a year and displays them at conferences. This service-learning project took nearly a year of planning between Dr. Biswas, Vicki Leeper, and Jessica Perone, Assistant Director of Engaged Learning at the WSU Center for Civic Engagement.
Community engagement is crucial for building connections with both local communities and fellow online learners within the WSU Global campus. In the Fall 2024 semester, WSU Global students volunteered over 500 hours. This shows their strong commitment to community engagement and their dedication to making a meaningful impact. It also highlights their ability to balance academic responsibilities with service and their enthusiasm for applying their skills to benefit others.
Global Cougar Leadership Program: Community Engagement Becomes Essential for Certification
Aunjelique Andersen, a WSU Global student and Broadcast Journalism major, participated in the Global Cougar Leadership Program this fall. Community engagement is a new component of the program and the EmpowerAll Certificate, designed to help students feel more connected to their WSU community. This addition allows students to engage with peers across the global campus and apply their leadership skills in unique settings. Aunjelique took part in a project writing uplifting letters to children in foster care. She stated,
This is a fun project you can be creative with. You can do this type of project anywhere. I have been in foster care, and I am currently a foster parent and feel that little things like cards and letters would bring some joy to kids at all stages at a time in their life that is unpredictable and uncertain.
- Aunjelique Andersen, WSU Global Student
On September 18th, the CCE kicked off the Global Cougar Leadership Program with 8 students, focusing on "Servant Leadership and Community Engagement." In this session, participants explored the principles of servant leadership, a philosophy where the leader’s primary goal is to serve others, fostering well-being, empowerment, and ethical growth within teams and communities. Servant leaders prioritize the needs of others, build trust, encourage collaboration, and promote empathy and stewardship in leadership roles. Through community engagement, students actively practiced servant leadership, reinforcing the idea that effective leadership means uplifting others and making impactful contributions. The CCE also facilitated two reflection workshops throughout the leadership program.
The Campus Community Forum successfully brought together community partners, faculty, students, and staff to explore campus-community partnerships and civic engagement. Facilitated by the WSU CCE and the Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership (CTLL), the interactive workshop focused on connecting, discussing, and reflecting on values-based leadership, especially in times of need. The event took place at Paradise Creek Brewery on November 13, 2024.
The WSU’s Center for Civic Engagement, Pullman Chamber of Commerce, and Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA) are hosting “Nonprofit Coffee Chat” meetings on a quarterly basis. These meetings provide a space for Palouse area nonprofit professionals to connect, discuss points of interest, explore collaboration opportunities, and share resources. The December Nonprofit Coffee Chat featured an interactive grant writing panel led by the following panelists:
- Paige Collins, Executive Director from the Colfax Council on Aging and Human Services
- Molly Sanchez, Chief Community Investment Officer from the Innovia Foundation
- Jeannie Bennett, Teaching Assistant Professor from the WSU Department of English
Mayor Francis Benjamin, Pullman City Councilmember Nathan Weller, and Cougar Food Pantry Coordinator Merri Lecoq generously shared their personal academic and professional journeys with students in Honors 211, Compassion in Action: Introduction to Community Engagement. Their contributions were genuinely appreciated by the students.
The Whitman County Auditor's Office, Center for Civic Engagement, and Compton Union Building hosted the Student Voting Hub on November 4th and 5th for the general election. A record number of students and community members visited the Hub to register to vote, print their ballots, and cast their votes. In total, 2,482 people utilized the services at the Student Voting Hub, including 1,836 on election day! As a result, WSU was recognized as a "2024 Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting" by the ALL-IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
I really enjoyed volunteering at the Student Voting Hub! I volunteered on Monday for two hours and got asked to come back Tuesday, which I was supposed to do from 2-4 but I stayed until 6:30! I chose to stay longer because the staff and other volunteers were extremely helpful and kind, and I enjoyed helping my peers. During my volunteer hours, I helped students sign up to vote, print out their ballots, explain the voting process, and assist with supplies. I learned so much while volunteering that will help me in future elections. I look forward to volunteering again, especially in the next midterm and presidential elections. This volunteer opportunity was not only educational but also exciting to see how many students showed up to vote!
- Abby Kyles, Student
Oluyemisi Oloniyo, a PhD student in Educational Psychology and Graduate Assistant at the CCE, presented "Empowering Emerging Voices through Reflective Practices" at the 2024 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference in Portland, Oregon. Oluyemisi’s presentation focused on evaluating the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer program hosted by the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, Pullman Campus, and funded by the National Science Foundation. The findings highlighted how reflective evaluation methods enabled students to critically assess their learning, navigate challenges, and articulate their growth. The presentation exemplified Oluyemisi Oloniyo's commitment to fostering inclusive, community-engaged learning and using evaluation as a tool for transformative change.
Research indicates that service-learning can significantly improve retention and graduation rates, especially for students of color. This impact is largely due to the heightened sense of belonging, classroom engagement, meaningful activities, and deeper connection to course content that students gain through community-engaged learning experiences. Check out the study by Monita Hollis Mungo, "Closing the Gap: Can Service-Learning Enhance Retention, Graduation, and GPAs of Students of Color?" (2017) in the Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning.
The Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship (JCES) invites the submission of manuscripts that relate to its mission: To provide a mechanism through which faculty, staff, and students of academic institutions and their community partners may disseminate scholarly works from all academic disciplines.
All past issues of The Engaged Scholar can be found on our website here.
The most recent issue of the WSU Campus Connection can be found here.
Oluyemisi Oloniyo, PhD student in Educational Psychology and Graduate Assistant at the CCE, was nominated as a Campus Liaison for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division K for the 2024-2025 academic year! As a Campus Liaison, she will connect with campus communities and collaborate with the Community Building Committee to create programming that supports grad students’ professional and academic growth.
2025 Continuums of Service Conference at Seattle University March 26-28, 2025
This experience with typing up documents from the Women's Rights era was really cool to be able to do. Not only did I get to help make these source searchable, but I also got to learn from the sources as I typed them up.
- Cassandra Bower, HD 205, Developing Effective Communication and Life Skills
I enjoyed my first time volunteering at Food Lifeline and learning about how everything operates. I was assigned to a group that was labeling crackers, and I ended up having a great time. I got to know the people I was working with and why they enjoy volunteering. I look forward to volunteering more throughout the semester and learning more about Food Lifeline as a whole.
- Kaitlyn Nation, Global HD 403, Families in Poverty
I work hard to fulfill my partners’ mission statements as that is what drew me to them in the first place. Outside of the programs, I also try to let other students know about these volunteer opportunities and the different programs available in the Moscow-Pullman area. I often talk about my experiences and encourage my friends to join me if there is room to volunteer.
- Eva Sheffler, Honors 212, Active and Immersive Community Engagement
It was super fun, the kids were awesome, and it was cool getting to work in a school.
- Olin Hill, Teaching and Learning 301, Learning and Development
Amazing! I enjoyed working with everyone and getting to help the Special Olympic athletes! So fun!
- Alexei Kuhl, HD 205, Developing Effective Communication Life Skills
From my experiences at the nursing home and elementary school, I learned how to engage with people of all different ages that I previously had not had much experience engaging with. I think these experiences were deeply meaningful as they provided me with new insights and skills that I had not developed yet before volunteering.
- Dylan Gray, Honors 211, Compassion in Action: Introduction to Community Engagement
Serving the public at this food pantry called "Restoration Market" of Tri-Cities, WA, has been great. I was able to connect with clients and share a smile and a moment of their time. This experience allowed me to see into a valuable resource for the poor population that allows them the decency to shop on their own for what foods their family needs, as well as hygiene products needed. What I observed was individuals and families from all populations of our community, and those coming in on behalf of those who could not as well. Often clients came weekly and were on a first name basis with staff, who went as far putting aside birthday cake packages for those families who may have a birthday coming up, and giving extras of somethings to those who asked, giving decency, care, and respect to all.
- Tronalie Tate, Global HD 403, Families in Poverty