MSU’s Outreach and Engagement Council awards five seed grants to projects in the community

BOZEMAN - The Outreach and Engagement Council at Montana State University has awarded seed grants to five projects that promote outreach and engagement between MSU and Montana communities.

The seed grant program connects MSU faculty, staff and students with community partners to help address Montana's needs. Funding has been awarded annually since the program was established in 2015, and this is the 10th round of funding.

This year, the council awarded grants of up to $8,000. The program has awarded approximately $250,000 in total since its inception.

The 2024-25 academic year seed grant awardees and their projects are listed below.

Honor Bound: Piikani Lodge Health Institute Field Course Development

Primary project coordinator: Steven Davis, assistant dean, Honors College

Primary external partners: Laura Caplins, director of operations and conservation programming, Piikani Lodge Health Institute; Loren Racine, on the land guide and program coordinator, Piikani Lodge Health Institute; Kim Paul, founder and executive director, Piikani Lodge Health Institute.

This project is a collaboration between the Piikani Lodge Health Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes health for the Blackfeet Nation, and Honor Bound, a program within MSU's Honors College that recruits high-achieving American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students. This Indigenous led initiative aims to develop and pilot a 5- and 10-day On The Land field course for Indigenous students that integrates varied perspectives from communities near Glacier National Park. The course will be piloted in the summer of 2024 and a 10-day field course will be expanded in 2025, focusing on promoting the health and well-being of the Blackfeet (Amskapi Piikani) people and their lands. The project involves MSU students and faculty and members of the Blackfeet community, aiming to develop local tourism capacity and professional skills. The program will also support the Honor Bound students' academic and leadership potential, providing them with unique, culturally immersive learning experiences.

Neighborhood Health Initiative Clinic

Primary project coordinator: Chelsea Koessel, Montana WWAMI medical student, Montana State University

Primary external partners: Jenna Huey, emergency shelter service manager, Human Resource Development Council

Other partners: Shannon Holder, registered nurse, Gallatin City-County Health Department; Ashley Guevara, clinic manager, Community Health Partners; Alan Brayton, pharmacist, Bozeman Health Highland Park Pharmacy

The Neighborhood Health Initiative was started by Montana WWAMI medical students in 2018. WWAMI is a cooperative program with the University of Washington School of Medicine and the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. It allows Montana students to attend their first two years of medical school at MSU's WWAMI campus in Bozeman and receive their medical degree from UW after completing clinical training in Seattle and Montana. The NHI provides health care to Bozeman's homeless at the HRDC Warming Center. It provides vital sign checks, diabetes screenings, vaccines and free over-the-counter medications. With support from local health departments and pharmacies, the NHI serves over 300 people, many of whom are uninsured or on Medicaid. Recent partnerships have expanded services to include advanced care referrals. The NHI aims to continue to evaluate its partnerships, extend services to homeless children, collaborate with students in MSU's Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing, organize fundraising and establish a dental care clinic.

Developing Healthy Recipes Using Native Crops

Primary project coordinator: Wan-Yuan Kuo, associate professor of food science, sustainable food systems, College of Education, Health and Human Development

Primary external partners: Latashia Redhouse, American Indian Foods Program

This project aims to support Native American producers and improve food security on reservations. Led by a team of students and faculty, including Culinary Research Chef, Rebecca Soule and Culinary Research Assistant, Annie Kozlowski, and dietetic student, Shelby Smith, the project partners with the American Indian Foods Program to leverage its network and expertise. The initiative will develop 14 recipes, focusing on both the health and environmental benefits of Native ingredients and on providing budget-friendly, nutritious options for food bank users. The recipes will feature ingredients such as tepary beans, wild rice, cornmeal, teas, herbs and seasonings while incorporating less common vegetable parts to reduce waste. The project emphasizes a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, combining culinary skills, nutrition science and cultural knowledge. The goal is to provide valuable educational and professional development opportunities for participating MSU students.

Fostering Cross-Cultural Collaboration for a Sustainable World

Primary project coordinator: Enkhchimeg Sharav, doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, Health and Human Development

Primary external partners: Katy Paynich, English department leader, Bozeman High School; Kerri Cobb, library department leader, Gallatin High School; Deidre Combs, organizational development consultant and executive coach, Combs and Company Inc.; Miracle Moonga, board member, International Education Networking Initiative

Other partners: Janelle Rasmussen, director of international training and professional development programs, MSU Office of International Programs; Fulbright Teaching Excellence Achievement Program 2024 fellow teachers

The goal of this project is engagement, sustainability and global collaboration at MSU. Participants will collaborate with the United Nations Association of the USA MSU chapter, local high schools, local nonprofits, the MSU Office of International Programs, international secondary school teachers and student clubs on the MSU campus. The project aims to improve relationships between U.S. students and foreign teachers to increase success for those who take part in global education. As part of the project, the World Awareness Fair will occur at both Bozeman high schools in fall 2024. UNA-USA members will receive training in inter- and cross-cultural understanding from NAFSA: Association of International Educators to prepare for more events in the spring of 2025. Spring projects include multiple activities for the two high schools and opportunities for MSU students to receive training in cross-cultural leadership skills. It is estimated that 600 high school students will benefit from this project.

Participatory Planning in Butte's Historic Phoenix Building

Primary project coordinator: Tyler Survant, instructor, School of Architecture, College of Arts and Architecture

Primary external partners: Olivia Everett, director of development, Imagine Butte Resource Center

Other partners: Todd Hunkler, National Affordable Housing Network; Anna Leshnick, Building Bureau

The Phoenix Building is part of Butte's national historic landmark district. The building has an extended history, being the home of the Symons Department Store for many years. This project will envision a renovation of the Phoenix Building and adjacent property. The building is owned and operated by the National Affordable Housing Network, and its revitalization is expected to play a major role in revitalizing uptown Butte. In collaboration with the building's tenants, MSU School of Architecture students will conduct interviews, workshops and surveys and will incorporate the information they collect into graphics, drawings and diagrams for the community's approval.