COMMUNITYACTIONPROJECTS
Scott ScholarsCommunityAction Projects(CAP)connect high-achieving STEM studentsfrom Universityof Nebraska at Omaha with organizationsin theOmaha metropolitan area to develop innovativesolutionstocommunitychallenges.Using design thinking,a human-centered approach to innovation,teamsof 6-8 Scott Scholarsworkwith a partnering organization toidentifya challenge,learn moreabout thepeopleimpacted bythat challenge, and develop a list of potential solutions. Fromthere, theteamchoosesonesolution to prototype,and ultimatelyhelpsthepartner deployand evaluatetheimpact of theprototype and their workoverall
CAPstrivestocreatevaluableexperiencesfor Scott Scholarsand their communitypartners. Different from traditional group projectsstudentsfacein academiccontexts,CAPpresents real-lifeoperational challenges, providestheopportunitytocreateprofessional relationships with peersand organization partners,and encouragesstudentstochallengethemselvesto makean impact in their communities.
PROGRAMGOALS :
Scott Scholars will:
- Usedesign thinking skillsto create a prototype for a tool, program, or servicethat a community partner can test in a real-lifesetting.
- Gain experienceworking in teamsthrough a rapid and principled design process.
- Learn about theOmaha metropolitan area?sopportunitiesand challengeswith expertsin thefield
- Stretch their thinking with human-centered empathy skills, far beyond what most areexposed to in STEM curriculum alone.
Community Partners will:
- Receivecreativethinking servicesand a testablesolution aimed at correcting a challengeor leveraging an opportunity facing their organization
- Build awarenessabout their organization and its mission with a captivestudent audience.
- Beinspired and refreshed from engagement with thoughtful and committed undergraduates
The UNO Scott Scholars program will:
- Build capacity, tools, and processesfor how student teamscan work together on a variety of projects
- Tietogether academic excellence with community impact in waysthat create valuefor UNO, Nebraska, and theentireregion
- Strengthen thebrand identity of theScott Scholarsprogram in theregion
CURRENTPARTNERSANDPROJECTS
Mission:Asoneof thefastest growingresearchcentersinthe country,NebraskaMedicineprovidesthehighest levelsof educational programs,innovativeresearch,andextraordinary patient care.
ProblemStatement:NebraskaMedicineisspecificallyinterested in designinganimprovedemergencydepartment (ED)for their patients,especiallythosewhoseprimarylanguageisnot English or Spanish
APPTEAM
Bishesh Adhikari, Ethan Funke, Xavier Herman, Bella Madsen, Michael Maline, Jackson Petrzilka, Jackson Ward
Solution:Scott ScholarsareradicallyredesigningEDdischarge instructionsfor patientsbydevelopinganapplicationthat combinesimageswithwrittendischargeinstructionstogivevisual representationwiththehopeof alleviatingpotential miscommunication
SIMULATION TEAM
ClareEuteneuer, AbbyMeier, Esther Samuel, IsabelleWebber Solution:Scott Scholarscreatedasimulationguidetogivemedical residentsperspectiveonhowtheir non-Englishspeakingpatients might feel whencomingintotheEmergencyDepartment They testedtheir simulationat UNMC'sDavisGlobal Center wherethis simulationwill beimplemented inresident curriculum
WAITINGROOM TEAM
HaleyBates, Preston Higginbotham, Karter Jeffrey, ColeMack, John Mentgen, Ian Meyer, AbbyKline, Keegan Shanahan, Shreeya Shapkota
ProblemStatement:NebraskaMedicineisinterestedincreatingan ideal emergencydepartment (ED)for their patientssotheyfeel caredfor at eachstepof their visit
Solution:Scott Scholarsarehelpingtocreateresourcesfor UNMC tohelpwithimprovingthepatient experiencefor thepatients visitingthewaitingroomintheED
HaleyBates, SydneeBaysa, Sophia Birch, TommyBonebrake, Bella Donovan, Will Harr, EvieHarvy, Keegan Shanahan, Max Sladovnik, Erin Weidenhamer
Mission:PrairieSTEM isanonprofit withthemissionof providing world-classSTEM Learningand Social Emotional Learning integrationfor anyone,everywhere
ProblemStatement:Thereisalackof exposurefor underprivileged femalestudentsinNebraskatoopportunitiesinSTEM,which hindersdiversityinthefieldand futuregrowth
Solution:Scott Scholarsareplanninganother iterationof the signatureSistersinSTEM event for Fall 2024 withnewideasand perspectivesguidingtheeffort.Theevent will exposeattendeesto STEM fieldsthroughSTEM activitiesandnear-peer mentoringby theScott Scholars Theywant toprovideyoung girlswith educational opportunitiestheymaynot otherwisehaveinthe classroom
Nick Armstrong, Elijah Gnuse, Grant Peters, Eben Samuel, Hannah Stone
Mission:RISEisanorganizationwiththemissiontobreakthe generational cyclesof incarceration RISEoffersprogramsfor individualspreparingtoleaveincarcerationand thosewhohave recentlyleft
ProblemStatement:RISEneedsamoreefficient and effectiveway toutilizethetestingdataontheir builderstobetter informtheir decisionsfor futureprogrammingandcurriculum
Solution:Scott Scholarsareredesigningthewaythat builders receivefeedbackandscoresfromtheir baselineteststomakethe processmoreeffectiveandempathetictoeachbuilders' situation Theywill continuethisproject inFall 2024 toempower buildersto excel throughtheRISEprogram.
Peyton Brooking, Tony Garcia, Alaina Lorkovic, Jossen Rinn, Chris Schinzel, Callum Ward, Mason Wickstrom,
Mission:Special Spacescreatesone-of-a-kinddreambedroomsare customizedfor eachchildtogivethema placewheretheycanjust beakidduringadifficult timeof their lives.
ProblemStatement:Special Spaceshasmoreneed for roomsthan theyhavestaffingor timetoaccommodate,sotheyarelookingfor waystocreatemoreinvolvement withtheorganization.
Solution:Scott Scholarsarehelpingtoexpandtheworkof Special Spacesbydesigning,organizing,andexecutinga Junior Boardto further carryout Special Spaces' mission Their first event asa Junior BoardisSpecial Strides,a5kfundraiser,will help Special Spacescontinuetheir missionof creatingsafeenvironmentsfor kidswhoneedthem
Justin Bartels, MarcFayad, Jagger Hastings, Michael LeBlanc, Jack Rygg, Bennett Schliesser, Ben Thomas
Mission: Bockscar is the Technology Innovation Sector of the 55th Wing of the USAir Force
Problem Statement: The United States Airforce?s oceanic crossing flight procedures are extensive and require a lot of attention to detail which could hinder the work of pilots, co-pilots, and navigator in emergency situations
Solution: Scott Scholars are designing an online version of the oceanic crossing procedures to help with accessibility and improved user experience for a more streamlined process and safer flights for the USAir Force
Mission:MaloneMaternal Wellnessprogramscombat the inequitiesanddisparitiesinBlackinfant andmaternal healthby providingaffordable,safe,andculturallycompetent perinatal services.
APPTEAM
Carter Brehm, Julia Ehlers, Brendan Falkinburg, Toby Heinemann, StoneHoffman, Kyleigh Murray, Nolan Williams
ProblemStatement:Maloneservesagrowingnumber of patients whocurrentlygototheir Malonedoulasfor questionswhichadds extrataskstotheir workloadastheyaresendingtext messages, emails,and answeringcallsdepending onhowtheir clientsreach out tothem.
Solution:Scott Scholarsplanned,designed,andcodeda maternal wellnessappthat includesresources,information,and FAQsfor newandexpectingmothersandpartners
DATATEAM
JPAurit, Ava DeLaGarza, Jaden Nienhueser, Tristan Weston
ProblemStatement:Maloneislookingtobemoreefficient with their multiplepatient trackinganddocumentationresourcesto referenceandreport their datamoreeffectively
Solution:Scott Scholarscreatedanewdatamanagement tool for Malonethat improvedthesetupof their datamethods,generated statistics,andprovided easier waystoanalyzetheir patients' needs
CharlieBerryman, ClaireDenton, CalumHeldt, Jenna Kramer, Kristen Lee, Elaina McHargue, Joel Miller, Drew Swanberg, BrielleUnseld, AngeliqueVargas, Juniper Weyhrich
Mission: CompletelyKIDSensuresthat our familieshaveaccess totheknowledgeandskillsnecessarytobreakthecycleof poverty
Problem Statement: Completely Kids sends out 900 meals for kids every weekend With a new warehouse to work in, they are looking to improve processes and sustainability for the program
Solution: Scott Scholars are researching and designing warehouse storage procedures and streamline the process of their bagging system They are looking for alternative ways to send out food that is sustainable and durable.
CURRENTPARTNERSANDPROJECTS
Bryan Benitez, Nathan Dull, WellsJohnson, DominicKoperski, Isabella Mitchell, JannyNguyen, Leo Pechous, MaggieSlusher, Ella Swank, MalloryWilliams
Mission:Collectivefor Youth's(CFY)missionistoadvocatefor, facilitateresources,andprovidequalitytrainingfor out of school timeprogramproviders
ProblemStatement:CFYislooking toexpandtheir volunteer programbut lacktheinfrastructuretoonboardthevolunteersthat theywouldliketoinanefficient manner Thisslowsdownthe processfor peopletoget involvedintheprogramandcreatemore demandfor timefor current employees.
Solution:Scott Scholarsarehelpingtocreateon-demandtraining programsfor CFY.Inpartnership withthestaff at CFY,students arelookingtoimprovevolunteer programmingwitheasily accessibleinformationandconnectingdatatoreal-lifeoutcomes tostudents
Marshall Herman, JoeNorman, Sam Norman, ClairePeoples, CallieStalnaker, Nick Svoboda, Aiden Weber
Mission:ChildSavingInstitute(CSI)providesdiverseprograms andservices,helpsstrengthenfamiliesandcommunities,and offersaspectrumof support for thepeopletheyserve
ProblemStatement:CSI offersvolunteer opportunitiesbut lacksa structuredprogramthat fullyengagesvolunteersinmeaningful andimpactful ways.Thislimitsboththeir contributionand potential long-terminvolvement.
Solution:Scott Scholarsareeager tohelpCSI builda comprehensivevolunteer programthat strengthenscommunity involvement,enhancesoperational efficiency,andfosterslasting support for theorganization'smission
Meg Aerni, Reid Chapman, Jack Ehlers, Lynn Fayad, Kolton Kralik, ClaireRickert, Tom Melliger, MollieNielsen, Kaitlyn Parker, AnthonyRobinson, MarcusSherrod, Ella Terwilliger, Jordan Zhang
Mission:Softsxillsisreshapingthewaystudentsaredeveloped alongtheir educational journeybybuilding acomprehensive& verifiableprofileof a student'ssoft skillsthat facilitatestheir educational andprofessional advancement
ProblemStatement:WithSoftsxillsexpanding throughout more thaneight schoolsintwoyears,sustainabilityof companypractice isanareaof concern Softsxillsislookingondifferent strategies theycanusetocontinuetoexpandtheir impact,whilenot putting excessivestrainontheir employees.
Solution:Scott ScholarsareworkingdirectlyalongsideSoftsxills staff andeducatorstounderstandtheinformationtheyare wantingtoreceivefromSoftsxillsandgiveout totheir students andparents Studentswill thenusetheinformationgainedto informSoftsxills' communicationmethodswiththeir different stakeholders
NEWPARTNERSFOR2025
At thebeginningof eachacademicyear,theScott ScholarsProgrambringsonseveral organizationsas CommunityActionProject Partners Thepartnersbeginworkingalongsideteamsof first year Scott Scholarsto solvingproblemsfacingtheir organization Usingdesignthinkingmethodology,thepartnersandScott Scholars continuetoworktogether until theScott Scholarsgraduatefour yearslater,exploringtechnical andstrategic solutionsalongtheway.
