One Special Project At A Time
The WSU Foundation continues to support innovative research and programming through its Special Projects Awards. In FY15, the Foundation committee awarded more than $65,000 to WSU individuals and organizations, who are using the funds for Ebola vaccine research, campus safety, alternative energy production, and more.
WSU faculty and staff can apply for a Special Project Award before March 18, 2016.
Here is a summary of the exciting programs that have come to life at WSU thanks to the Foundation funding:
Exploiting Ebola Virus To Develop Novel Virus like Particle Vaccines
Winona State University Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Osvaldo Martinez and WSU student researchers are working to develop an FDA-approved vaccine for the Ebola virus. Martinez’s ongoing research, for which he has received a WSU Foundation Special Projects Grant two years in a row, focuses on the Ebola virus as an emerging pathogen. He believes that by understanding how the Ebola virus targets human immune system cells, scientists can develop better vaccines—not just against the Ebola virus, but other potential pathogens. The grant received by Martinez and his student team will continue his research. Learn more about WSU’s Biology program: winona.edu/biology/default.asp
Children’s Garden—An Outdoor Science Learning Center
The WSU Children’s Center will be adding an Outdoor Science Learning Center. The Foundation award, plus state grants and equipment requests, will lead to the completion of a year round, outdoor facility at Wabasha Hall for use by children aged 2-11, who will interact with biological, chemical, physical and geological science principles, while benefiting WSU students who will utilize the center while working with children. For more about the WSU Children’s Center, go to: winona.edu/childcare/
Digital Humanities Speaker Series
The College of Liberal Arts-sponsored series, with funding help from the Foundation, an Innovation Grant, the Mass Communication department, the English Department, and the Faculty Development Committee, will bring in experts to educate the campus community on digital humanities, conduct workshops, and serve as consultants for the shaping of the Digital Humanities minor curriculum. For more about the College of Liberal Arts, go to: winona.edu/liberalarts/
Preparation And Characterization Of Organic Materials For Alternative Energy Production
This timely project’s goal is to promote alternate energy related research for undergraduate students in the Chemistry Department. Faculty and students will prepare organic materials that will be used for the production of solar energy and fuel hydrogen. Learn more about WSU Chemistry: winona.edu/
chemistry/
HERS Practicum
The Maternal and Fetal Outcomes Study; a collaboration between WSU and Winona Health, the study will determine various maternal and birth outcomes from a resistance band exercise study. The project will allow WSU students to work with pregnant women and provide exercise at a crucial time. For more about the HERS programs at WSU, go to: winona.edu/
hers/
Graduate Nursing Student Research
Students in the WSU Master’s of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice traveled to the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Conference in Indianapolis in April 2015. Three groups of two students each were selected by the Graduate Nursing faculty to present their evidence-based practice projects.
Development Of A Psychometric Measure Manual
Sonja J. Meiers, Director of Graduate Nursing at WSU’s Rochester Campus, has been researching family member responses to the challenges of managing a chronic illness for the past seven years. She received Foundation funding to complete a manual to be used by clinicians and researchers desiring to improve care for families managing a chronic illness. Find out more about WSU’s Graduate Nursing program: winona.
edu/graduatenursing/
FALL 2014 AWARDS
“Unspeakable”
The WSU Social Work Department hosted a display of art by Shirl Chouinard, a multi-award winning visual artist, during the Spring 2015 semester. Chouinard’s work centers on family violence, sexual assault, femicide, and infanticide through life-sized dolls, mixed media sculptures and abstract quilts, to point out the fact that family violence and sexual assault impact millions worldwide. The project included a CLASP lecture with Chouinard. Go to: winona.edu/socialwork/ for more on WSU’s Social Work program.
Developing A New Online/Hybrid General Education/Communication/Course
The ‘Big River’ Culture of the Upper Mississippi: WSU Communication Studies professor Rita L. Rahoi-Gilchrest developed two separate two-hour teaching and learning sessions on The Cal Fremling Interpretive Center & Floating Classroom. The goal of these sessions was to help students better appreciate the culture and diversity of the Winona area, including the art, tourism, food, music, outdoor recreation, and other aspects of “Big River Culture.” As part of the project, a student videographer filmed and produced interviews with local experts in “Big River” culture. To learn about the Cal Fremling as an educational tool, go to: winona.edu/boat/education.asp in the
North Central Section Mathematical Association Of America Conference
The WSU Department of Mathematics and Statistics hosted the spring 2015 meeting of the North Central Section of the MAA. The conference included presentations of faculty and graduate research in mathematics and mathematics education. Undergraduate students were invited to attend and give presentations, enhancing their post graduate opportunities. Hosting the conference, which included member schools from Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, gave WSU the opportunity to showcase the newly-remodeled Science Laboratory Center. For information about the WSU Mathematics and Statistics program, go to winona.edu/mathematics/
High School Personal Finance Quiz Bowl
The WSU College of Education, in conjunction with the Lewiston, St. Charles, and Winona school districts, hosted the High School Personal Finance Quiz Bowl in February 2015. Prior to the competition, each student team received a unique family scenario that they used to develop a family budget plan. The teams presented their budget plans, participated in a trivia round, and had 40 minutes to make changes to their budgets when given a life-changing scenario. WSU provided tablets, laptops, and technology support to the students during the competition. Chris Farrell, economics editor of Marketplace Money, served as host of the Quiz Bowl. To find out more about the College of Education, go to: winona.edu/education/
Sustainable Futures Keynote Talk For The Pollinator Summit And Bee Fest
WSU and the Biology Department hosted “Honey Bee Social Immunity” with Marla Spivak April, 2015. Spivak’s lecture focused on Propolis, a plant-derived resin with antimicrobial properties that is collected by honeybees. Spivak is a professor at the University of Minnesota whose lab work focuses on how bees stay healthy through their social health care system. She is a MacArthur Fellowship recipient and speaker on a 2013 Ted Talk entitled “Why the Bees are Disappearing.” For more on the WSU Biology program, go to: winona.edu/biology/
Literature To Literacy: Building an Education Resource Collection
The WSU Early Childhood and Elementary Education Department is building collections of books for WSU education major students to use in Children’s Literature classes as they visit the WSU Children’s Center or local preschools for readaloud sessions and extended activities. Find out more about the program at: winona.edu/earlychildhood/default.asp
WSU Young Writers Conference
Winona State University hosted the annual Young Writers Conference in May 2015. The event offered elementary and middle school students the opportunity to attend three unique sessions per day with adult instructors, with the goal of inspiring creativity and developing skills. The conference drew more than 900 students in the 3rd through 8th grades from more than 40 area schools. Read media coverage of the event in the Winona Post at: winonapost.com/Article/ArticleID/44252/Editors-Notes-
Young-Writers-Conference
Winona State Athletics Multimedia Improvement Project
The WSU Athletics Department upgraded its multimedia production equipment using its grant. Warrior Athletics now has the ability to live-stream athletic events in high definition, improve the overall production quality and stream multiple events at the same time. This upgrade allows WSU to showcase its athletes in the best way possible, offering a high quality viewing experience for students, alums, and fans. Go to winonastatewarriors.com/ to stay updated on Warrior Athletics.
First-Gen Warriors Campaign
The Warrior Success Centeris expanding its programming for first-generation students,who made up 43 percent of the WSU student body in 2014-15,through its award. The First-Gen Warriors initiative offers a widerange of orientation classes and workshops to help guide thesestudents all the way to graduation. To learn more about first-genprograms at WSU, go to: winona.edu/firstgenwarrior/club.asp
Student Parent Center
The WSU Children’s Centerat Wabasha Hall is considered the hub of the university’s workwith its student-parents and their children. The award allows the center to upgrade its family room facilities and provide a supportive environment. Learn more about the center at:
winona.edu/childcare/
Student Research And Clinical Practice
The Psychology Department provided four students with the opportunity to integrate clinically-oriented research and professional practice. The students participated in a research poster display in April 2015 and interacted with licensed psychologists at the Minnesota Psychological Association in Minneapolis. More information on WSU’s Psychology programs and research is at: winona.edu/psychology/
Genetic Study Of Neural Development In Zebrafish
Assistant Professor of Biology Jacob Hines used the award to purchase necessary equipment and is expanding his research of novel molecular mechanisms responsible for a specific facet of brain development called myelination, which affects Multiple Sclerosis in humans. Zebrafish form myelin within their first three days of life, and students in the program study this stage of development as it relates to MS research. Learn more about student research in the Biology department: winona.edu/biology/research.asp
