International Coastal Cleanup: A Wave of Change

Declan Ridgeway, Alexander Lavin, Julia Kruger, and Luke Flajole

The Service-Learning Marine Conservation and Restoration class organized and planned an International Coastal Cleanup that was held at Canaveral National Seashore on September 23, 2023. We operated educational tables that allowed for community engagement and provided an understanding of the presence of microplastics in the ecosystem. The team created promotional posters to inform the public about the event and what would be taking place throughout the day. We shared these posters in our spheres and garnered interest from those in the UCF community and abroad. We had the opportunity to remove harmful debris throughout many crucial habitats of the Canaveral National Seashore including park trails, beaches, lagoon shorelines and campgrounds. This was completed by use of pontoon boats and on-foot volunteers working throughout the day to collect debris from small landmasses in the lagoon and from the seashore. Overall, this event gave those involved a valuable experience utilizing environmental education and activism to inspire participants. This was a great opportunity in enabling us to improve our educational skills as well as our ability to promote community engagement.
How Initiative Inspires Togetherness

Mekhai Ryan

The purpose of this project was to make a lasting change on our respective communities. During my process of completing this project, I engaged in activities, such as, food drives, community cleanups, be involved in the planning of our 3rd annual community parade, etc. While participating in this project, I learned that seeing other people happy makes me happy and want to contribute more to their happiness. I learned that being a good example in the community, urges others to want to do the same thing for others as well. I volunteered for the Pine Hills Safe Neighborhood Partnership, and they were founded in 2001. I’ve been volunteering with them since I was a freshman in high school, and I enjoy helping others. I feel an obligation to be apart of this organization, especially since I provide that infusion of youth not many non-profit organizations possess.
Proposition to Christ Fellowship Church

Connor Sands
Brain Fitness Academy: Making Impacts

Ella Shams, Susan Kampiyill, and Estefania Zamarripa

Throughout the Fall, 2023 semester, we volunteered at Brain Fitness Academy (BFA). In doing so, we set out on a project to bring more creative arts into the classroom, as countless studies have shown that creative arts greatly help individuals with memory loss. During our time at Brain Fitness, we incorporated arts using a painting lesson in which members’ moods greatly improved, members were engaged, and happy to be doing the activity. We explored how creative arts can truly help those with memory loss, in particular painting. In the end, we found that creative arts and dementia have a strong relation, in which individuals who participate in creative arts will have a better overall mood and quality of life.
Excess Body Weight and It’s Association to Diabetes Mortality Among Florida Adults

Shivanie M. Sharma

“Excess Body Weight and Its Association to Diabetes Mortality” is a topic that has been highly studied and researched. However, there has yet been a study that looks at excess body weight and its association to Diabetes Mortality among Florida Adults. Specifically, by utilizing data from the Florida Health Charts. This includes the analyzation by Person (Florida Blacks versus Whites), Place (Florida counties), and Time (rate of diabetes mortality though the years in Florida). This study further provides information on the idea of the “obesity paradox.” But, it also sheds light on the implications and limitations based on previous epidemiological analytical studies.
Sensational (Sea) Star Students

Rachael Slayton and Victoria Boesch

We visited Ms. Mary Lynn Hess’ 3rd grade classroom at Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School to educate students about sea star biology and conservation. We played games with students such as: pin-the-arm on the sea star in which students wrote their favorite fact about sea stars and pinned it to a star, a Pokémon survival game, and a take home make-your-own sea star clay kit. A factual poem was sent home to reinforce knowledge gained and to share with their families.

Through our experience teaching third grade students, we improved our science communication skills, time management skills, and teamwork skills.

We hope you enjoy our project.
Volunteering at an Elementary School

Kaila R. Sobol

For this service learning project, I chose to volunteer at Timbercrest Elementary School, my community partner, in Deltona, Florida. Before selecting my service project, I did research regarding parts of my community that needed volunteers to help out. I discovered an article by SF Ed Fund named "5 Reasons to Volunteer in a School" which focused on how "underfunded and understaffed" public schools are. I volunteered approximately eight hours a week at Timbercrest, moving between different classrooms and helping out multiple teachers. While volunteering there, I administered and graded tests, inputed grades, worked with students in small groups, and lead whole group activities.
Educating the next generation with Science Alive

Logan M. Sonne and Alexander Lavin

This presentation recounts the experiences of Logan Sonne and Alexander Lavin as they work together with the organization Science Alive to educate the next generation about important scientific topics. Myself and Alex worked diligently to prepare a presentation for an elementary school we would be visiting, in order to teach a fourth-grade class about how hydroponics works and its importance to our future.
A Comprehensive Approach to Supporting Homeless Communities through Free Clinical Screenings

Nivedha Srinivasan, Ria Gupta, and Manasi Prakash

Hearts for the Homeless Orlando is a part of an international organization that is “focused on eliminating health disparities through practicing preventative healthcare and providing free healthcare services.” At each event, free heart health and eye health screenings and education are given to the homeless population in Downtown Orlando. Once arriving at the screening location (Christian Service Center), a table is set up with 2 blood pressure monitors, the KardiaMobile EKG Monitor, hand sanitizing wipes, germicidal wipes, gloves, and pamphlet handouts. These supplies help volunteers understand the health conditions of the individuals who visit to the site, and allow volunteers to recommend them to nearby free health clinics to further check up on them. H4H has worked with the Mothers and Children’s Health Association to host donation drives, as well as with Service and Love Together to provide mobile showering for the homeless population.
Applying Social Identity Theory to Examine National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Peyton Tongate

The purpose of this theoretical paper and project was to apply social identity theory (SIT) to examine National Disability Awareness Month (NDEAM). The communication discipline has much to offer to the improvement of advocacy efforts and inclusion for disabled individuals. By applying SIT to a transformative campaign from the disability field, it is understood that successful campaigns depend upon group membership, clearly defining the audience, and maintaining a willingness to adapt the campaign over time.

Key concepts of SIT such as group membership and identification were applicable and provided an understanding as to how NDEAM developed throughout history. It was revealed that SIT is an effective theory from the communication discipline that should be utilized in future campaign creations. More specifically, SIT concepts are useful in understanding how able-bodied individuals can assist in advocacy efforts to fight for equal rights for disabled individuals.
The Social Impact of Reliable Digital Media

Scott E. Tschetschot Jr

I spent my time this semester volunteering for Project Gutenberg through their Distributed Proofreaders program. This project consists of a reflection on my service with them, alongside what exactly makes their organization so impactful. My main activity consisted of proofreading a variety of texts for their online library, alongside taking tests and previewing other's work to ensure accuracy in their media. While interacting with their community, I learned what made their organization so important, the roots of their goals and overall purpose, and how exactly to be an efficient proofreader for them. While individual impact is small in a large-scale organization like this forged by decades of hard work, I played my part in helping them make a difference.
Optimization of a Gel Electrophoresis Protocol to Enhance Results

Sebastian Velez

This experiment focused on an optimization protocol using DNA that students use in the laboratory component of the QBM teaching lab. Different agarose gel concentrations were tested, and 0.6% was found to create the best resolution and visibility for the given DNA. The experiment also helped me in becoming a better scientist as it taught me how to organize and structure myself in a research project, as well as how to be efficient with my time while producing good results.
Giving experiences back to your community

Elionel J. Vertus

The purpose of my project is to show how much people can be impacted and the importance of the next generation. This project shows how much that people can learn from each other and give fun impactful experiences to those who doesn't have the same benefits you or others do.
Be The Match

Aneesa K. Williams and Shea Reed

Our objective was to earn a deeper understanding for what it means to be part of an organization as wide as Be The Match, and the way they incorporate their mission throughout their community. We attended multiple community service events and were able to see how the volunteers work to get individuals to join the bone marrow registry. Be The Match is a non-profit organization that specializes in connecting cancer patients with individuals who have donated bone marrow. Lives of all walks of life have been saved, it was beautiful to be part of such a special and unique experience of volunteerism.
Caring 4 the Kids of CHS

Courtney Williams

The purpose of my project is to spread awareness, knowledge, and spread the excitement I had from doing this. The biggest takeaway from this experience is that it is very easy to help someone. It doesn't take much all of my supplies was from the dollar store. I was more excited about the kids seeing my creative skills than anything. I also want to normalize the fact that people struggle and its a human thing. Sometimes we need help and it is very much okay to give without expecting something back in return.