Funding for Engagement

2009 Excellence in Engagement Grants

Total Funding for 2009: $153,417

1. The State of OHIO gets FUEL FOR LEARNING ($49,279)

Gail L. Kaye, Program Director, Department of Human Nutrition, College of Education and Human Ecology; Maryanna Klatt, Assistant Professor, School of Allied Medical Professions, College of Medicine; Partners: COSI, OSU Extension

This project blends Move-Into-Learning (College of Medicine) and Food Fit (College of Education and Human Ecology), two successful outreach research programs that have been locally implemented in socioeconomically stressed areas of the city of Columbus, to create a sustainable statewide program addressing childhood obesity, learning readiness, behavior, and stress prevention. DVDs that address nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction strategies will be provided to classroom teachers along with professional development in conjunction with COSI. OSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences educators will be trained to evaluate the program once it has been implemented at school sites across the state.

2. Learning in Fitness & Education (LiFE): An Innovative Service, Teaching, and Research Project ($56,508)

Dawn Anderson-Butcher, Associate Professor, College of Social Work; Rebecca Wade-Mdivanian, Project Coordinator, College of Social Work; Jerry Davis, Department of Athletics; School of Physical Activities and Educational Services, College of Education and Human Ecology; Undergraduate Admissions and First Year Experience, Economic Access Initiative, P-12 Project, Office of Academic Affairs; Department of Recreational Sports, Office of Student Life. Partners: The Boys and Girls Club of Columbus; Ohio Department of Education Office for Safety, Health, and Nutrition

This comprehensive youth development initiative project is built upon a historical community outreach program operating at Ohio State for the past 40 years, the National Youth Sport Program (NYSP). The interdisciplinary team will implement a 20-day (4-week) summer sports program for 600 low income youth, focused on the development of social competence through sport and other play-based enrichment activities, college access, and career exploration. Follow-up booster sessions will be provided to youth six times throughout the academic year at Boys and Girls Club of Columbus sites. These booster sessions will be focused on group-based mentoring and developing connections with caring adults. The LiFE Sports team will also partner with First Year Experience and the Economic Access Initiative to provide all project participants with college access and career exploration activities in the summer and throughout the year.

Photos and story about 2009 LiFE Sports Career Day on the P-12 Project website >

3. A Partnership of Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and Metro High School ($47,630)

Elaine Grassbaugh and Mark Bennett, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Partners: Neal Bluel, Metro High School; Sheli O. Smith, PAST Foundation

Metro High School students partnered with Ohio State graduate and undergraduate students to develop and operate a vegetable, flower, and herb farm. The farm provided a hands-on learning environment for students interested in sustainable agriculture practices including crop production and marketing, farm management, water conservation, irrigation systems, integrated pest management, and renewable energy resources. Ohio State students acted as mentors to the Metro students. The project addresses global issues of food production and access, locally grown food, and entrepreneurship.

onCampus article and video about the project >

WOSU iMix video (scroll down to "Metrofarm") >

Metro students’ blog >

Grant Recipients

2008 Excellence in Engagement Grants
2007 Excellence in Engagement Grants
2006 Excellence in Engagement Grants
2005 Excellence in Engagement Grants
2004 Excellence in Engagement Grants
2005 Outreach & Engagement Seed Grants
2002 Outreach & Engagement Seed Grants
2001 Outreach & Engagement Seed Grants
2000 Outreach & Engagement Seed Grants
1999 Outreach & Engagement Seed Grants
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