SVSU students win grant dollars for innovative projects

The Student Research and Creativity Institute at Saginaw Valley State University is an idea factory, and it's turning out some fascinating student-driven research projects -- everything from protecting potatoes without pesticides to studying the cultural influence of "mix tapes" on 1980s culture.

The institute grants $50,000 annually to innovative and creative student projects that will have a lasting impact. The program is in its third year.
 
"College students are an endless source of ideas, and many of those are, in fact, good ideas," says J.J. Boehm, director of media and public relations at Saginaw Valley State University.
 
This year, there were six winning projects, chosen by a team of professors and faculty at SVSU. Students have to submit detailed proposals and budget requests to be eligible for up to $10,000 in funding.

Here are this year's winning projects:

• Bethany Benson, a French major from Essexville, received $8,782 to investigate cultural differences between Canadians of French and English heritage in Quebec City.

• Maegan Byer, a communication/multimedia graduate student from Bay City, was awarded $1,313 to study mix tapes from the 1980s and their impact on popular culture.

• Sisters Julie and Lisa Luce -- both professional and technical writing majors from Bay City -- received $2,522 to develop a "Green News Network" to report on environmental news at SVSU.

• Timothy Pionk, a biology and psychology major from Bad Axe, received $1,006 to research procrastination in college students.

• Kristina Stilson, a pre-secondary education major from Morley, was awarded $3,000 to research natural pesticides to protect potatoes crops.

• Jordan Vincent, a communication and marketing major from Manistee, received $1,276 to study how video game companies' presentations at industry events influence customers.

"We're trying to encourage entrepreneurs, and we're also trying to encourage all students with outstanding ideas to pursue them," Boehm says. "And when you look at the breadth and the depth of projects that were selected, you really get a sense of the talent and creativity that exists in our student body."  


Writer: Jenny Cromie
Source: Saginaw Valley State University, J.J. Boehm