Engaged Learning week began with “The Lucky Cup” event in an excited Cafe 100 on Feb. 5. The event featured five engaged learner’s projects, and gave information about the purpose of Engaged Learning.
Ramon Trespalacios, SMU student body president, started off with a speech that encompassed the three themes students on campus see in Engaged Learning: opportunity, leadership and passion.
“I challenge you to attend as many events this week as you can,” Trespalacios said. “Here at SMU we are world changers, and opportunities, leadership and passion is what is necessary to change the world.”
At the event, visitors could see a photo booth with Peruna and displays of the student projects. Free Girl Scout cookies and coffee were served by people such as the Provost Dr. Paul Ludden, and Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Lori White.
“Engaged Learning is a way to learn beyond the classroom in a profound way,” Susan Kress, director of Engaged Learning, said. The program exists to “help students get involved while they are still students and have the university as a safety net, because sometimes students realize that the experience was great, but they are ready for something else.”
Engaged Learning gives students the opportunity to be leaders and pursue their passions. It provides exposure, funds for students and turns their passions into projects.
Drake Frank, a mechanical engineering major, presented a way to make clean energy out of coconut oil. He discovered that heating coconut oil makes it thin enough to work in a diesel generator.
“[I] targeted countries that don’t have a lot of money or strong energy infrastructure, but have a lot of coconuts,” Frank said. Currently, the top three countries this could make a serious impact on are Kenya, Mozambique, and Papua New Guinea.
Kristen Kelso, a theatre studies major, took her Engaged Learning project to London and performed a small excerpt of her findings from interviewing street performers. Faculty and peers encouraged her as she held the microphone, acting out what she learned.
Richard Braxton presented “Quake Map” and Zachary Friske presented emergency CPR training called “Operation Heart Care.” Thomas Gelo showed a film he made after his time in London. He said it was inspired by “the average person in the UK having their picture taken by the government 300 times per day.”
“Engaged Learning serves as a capstone experience for students,” Meleah Chriss, assistant director of Engaged Learning, said. “Students have the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom behind the classroom wall.”
Forty-three students will present their projects on Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the forum at Hughes-Trigg Student Center. On Feb. 7, Engaged Learning will host an open house in the Engaged Learning Office located in Clements from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To see more projects and get more information, visit Engaged Learning’s website.
