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FVCC Foundation Awards Nearly $14,000 for Innovative Projects and Student Travel

The Foundation at Flathead Valley Community College recently announced grant awards totaling $13,950 for innovative projects that shift student learning experiences and for student travel to present their original research and work. The grants were funded by proceeds from the Foundation’s annual Festival of Flavors events.

"The Enhancement Grants provide funding to faculty and staff to create new educational partnerships, elevate the student experience and develop new ways of teaching and learning," said Foundation Executive Director Colleen Unterreiner. "We are grateful to the donors who make these opportunities possible."

FVCC Foundation Enhancement Grants were awarded for the following projects:

"Our Food from Our Fields"
FVCC’s Agriculture and Culinary programs are collaborating to grow a variety of grains on the Campus Farm that can be milled into flour in the culinary kitchen and used in culinary classes to create artisan breads and pastries. The Foundation awarded $2500 to help purchase a stone mill to process the grain into flour.

"Colombian Demining Robot – Investigation Project"
In partnership with students and instructors from SENA Caldas in Colombia, South America, FVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing and Electronics Technology programs are building robots that will be shipped to Colombia and used to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Colombian countryside. This project strengthens the relationship between FVCC and SENA Caldas that began in 2015 as a result of the two college’s participation in the 100,000 Strong in the Americas program. The Foundation awarded $2400 to purchase the supplies needed to build the robots.

"Creating Virtual Reality Immersive 360-Degree Videos"
With an $1800 grant from the Foundation, the FVCC Library is purchasing 360-degree cameras and related equipment that faculty and students can use to create immersive virtual reality videos on a variety of topics relevant to their disciplines. The videos will be available for viewing in the FVCC Library’s new virtual reality room.

"Many Voices Symposium"
With a $750 grant from the Foundation, FVCC’s Humanities and Theatre departments are expanding the college’s bi-annual public speaking symposium to include opportunities for all FVCC students to participate.

"Solar-powered Golf Cart"
FVCC students taking Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems (ELCT 251) will convert a golf cart to run on solar energy. The cart will be utilized by the Admissions & Registration office when giving tours of the campus. The Foundation awarded $2500 to purchase supplies for this project.

"Community Involvement Programming"
A $2500 grant from the Foundation will help support an AmeriCorps VISTA member to expand opportunities for low-income students to benefit from community involvement and community-based learning.

"Student Health, Safety and Well-Being Training"
With a $1500 grant from the Foundation, FVCC students will be able to participate in a national conference to share ideas and gain insights for building exceptional peer education programs that promote strategies in health, safety and student leadership.

For more information about the Foundation at FVCC, contact Colleen Unterreiner at [email protected] or 756-3914.

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