During the spring 2023 semester, students in Kansas State University’s LEAD 499: Advanced Nonprofit Leadership class created and completed a series of grant-funded projects that developed their leadership skills, taught them about the value of creating positive change in their community, and engaged Manhattan, Kansas, residents of all ages.
In the Nonprofit Leadership undergraduate certificate, an academic offering from the Staley School of Leadership, students study all aspects of exercising leadership in nonprofit organizations, often through experiential projects and service learning. This includes learning about designing an effective organization, engaging volunteers, setting mission and vision, funding ideas, and much more.
Funding from grants is essential to many nonprofit organizations – usually foundations or governments. As such, many nonprofits want to hire employees skilled in grant-writing. Through this project, students engaged in the real-life grant process. Rather than solely studying it in the classroom, learning happened through doing and through service.
Students in LEAD 499 applied for and received four grants from the Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grants, which are administered through Youth Service America (YSA). The purpose of this grant program is to “build meaningful connections and create more inclusive, empathetic, and kind communities.”
They divided the class into four groups, each with a project centered around Global Youth Service Day. Through these projects, they engaged a large and diverse array of community partners in Manhattan — from elementary schools to assisted living facilities.
The combination of the students’ hard work and the support of Hershey’s and YSA enabled the LEAD 499 class to bring funds into the community to spread kindness, understanding, and empathy through their group projects.
Tamara Bauer, instructor for LEAD 499, was excited for the creative ideas each group came up with to meet the purpose of the grant. Not only did students engage in intentional service, they collaborated to improve their grant writing skills.
Students submitted the following descriptions of each of the projects this semester:
Identities and Connections, Buttons and Games!
Group Members
- Ginger Harris (she/they), junior in Theatre Management, Shawnee, Kansas/Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- Sofie Erickson (she/her), senior in Organizational Management, Overland Park, Kansas
- Jack Carruth (he/him), senior in Political Science, Tryon, North Carolina.
- Emmanuel Ugwuegbu (He/Him), senior in Biology Pre-Medicine, Lenexa, Kansas
- Courage Wortman (they/them), senior in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, Kansas City, Kansas
This group partnered with True Colors Flint Hills, Inc. a nonprofit that provides direct services, advocacy, and education in support of Queer and trans* youth. The goal was to provide a fun night of board games and button making to the youth that True Colors serves.
The project made a great impact in providing an inclusive atmosphere, where kids and volunteers were able to be themselves, with their identities respected and accepted for who they are. Through the project, we were able to advocate for Trans and LGBTQIA+ rights within our community, providing them support and educating them on their rights and the resources they can utilize within the community.
What’s the Scoop?
Group Members
- Amber Pryor, senior in Architecture, St. Paul, Missouri
- Madison Mann, Business Management, Council Bluff, Iowa
- Caroline Barber, senior in Organizational Management, Wichita, Kansas
- Alesha Bergner, senior in Agricultural Technology Management, Pratt, Kansas
This group’s project sought to foster meaningful conversations and intergenerational connections. It was held in partnership with Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community located in Manhattan, Kansas, and engaged college student volunteers and residents in the independent living facility.
Our group utilized conversation starter cards and sat at tables of about ten people, allowing volunteers and residents to create and build on connections with one another. At the conclusion of our event, we thanked the residents and asked them for any parting advice. We were advised “you don’t want to say goodbye. You want to say “so long’ or ‘see you later’.” We thought this was particularly meaningful and a lesson to enjoy life’s fleeting moments and to never give finality to special connections.
We believe we had a great impact on these residents and they told us that they loved that we took the time to make them feel special. We also spoke with staff and were encouraged to volunteer in the future because their residents are so excited about connecting with young people. We will move forward from this experience with greater understanding of what it is like to be the wise ones in the world and how important it is to pass on life’s lessons.
Un-Bowl-Ievables
Group Members
- Sarah Kelley, junior in Music Education, Wichita, Kansas
- Olivia Wiley, senior in Agriculture Pre Veterinary/Science, Wagoner, Oklahoma
- Kaleo Vincent, senior in Athletic Training and Rehabilitation Sciences, Park City, Kansas
- Samantha Meis, senior in Agricultural Economics, Loami, Illinois
Un-Bowl-ievable Buddies is a project that bridges the gap between volunteers, international students, and dedicated K-Staters to celebrate diverse cultures. The event took place in partnership with International Buddies, another organization on campus, and with Kansas State University’s Student Union Bowling Alley.
The purpose of our project was to bring together local and international students and spend an evening fostering meaningful connections and celebrating the similarities and differences among cultures. We believe that this event had the capability of reducing loneliness and culture shock commonly experienced by international students abroad, as well as creating new friendships and understanding among student attendees. To do so, we sent out a survey to International Buddies members to formulate a list of snacks we would provide in preparation of the event that reminds people of their home and culture. Each bowling lane will have a mixed group of international and local students, and we will play additional games to give opportunities for the groups to get to know one another and mingle.
The planning and preparation of the event was completed by students in our nonprofit leadership class, the leadership team of the International Buddies, and additional volunteers around campus that have a passion for celebrating diverse cultures with all volunteers being between the ages of 18-22. We truly believe Un-Bowl-ievable Buddies created a positive impact on volunteers, international students, and local K-State students and bring a new sense of togetherness to our campus.
Project EXCELLed
Group Members
- Mia Schindler, junior in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, St. Louis, Missouri
- Hattie Polson, senior in Agriculture Economics, Frankfort, Kansas
- Katie Reinart, junior in Animal Science, Esbon, Kansas
- Jackson Welsh, senior in Educational Studies, Abilene, Kansas
This group partnered with Project EXCELL, which provides personal enrichment and life skill classes to adults 18 years and older with developmental disabilities. EXCELL strives to give these students a college-like experience. It also provides the opportunity for EXCELL students and Kansas State University students to grow and learn through interactions with each other. The program has a profound impact on the lives of the participants, allowing them to participate in the community and experience a college environment.
EXCELL offers Saturday morning classes in the fall and spring semesters on the K-State campus. Students come as far as an hour’s drive to participate in this program.
Our group handwrote cards with our class volunteers congratulating the Project EXCELL graduates and included a cute “Project EXCELL Grad!” sticker! Our small group picked up flowers at a local grocery store and made small bouquets to give each graduate.
The four of us then attended the University for Mankind (UFM) graduation, in addition to a class session the week before to get to know some of the grads. We helped set up the sets of gifts (with the UFM gifts) at the ceremony that were given to each graduate like a diploma. We were able to honor and greet the 60 grads and recognize them by having the flowers and the notes written from K-State college students.
