Tara Thapaliya Receives Student Innovation Fund Grant at Lebanon Valley College

2016 Feb 10

Nine Lebanon Valley College student proposals are one step closer to implementation thanks to inaugural Student Innovation Fund grants announced by LVC President Dr. Lewis E. Thayne. Nine grants were awarded to 20 students, including Tara Thapaliya of Lancaster, Pa., for projects ranging from sustainability and outdoor appreciation to student programming and the arts.

Thapaliya, a graduate of JP McCaskey East High School, is pursuing a bachelor of science in medical technology at The Valley. This grant, awarded to the Global Education Club, will be in direct support of this yearOs International Food Festival. First introduced in Spring 2015, the club requested additional funds to support 20 tables with unique food items, along with information regarding food from that country and takeaway recipe cards. The festival will also include international music, trivia, a study abroad table, and a poster display representing geographical origins of food. In addition to the festival, the Global Education Club plans to create an educational presentation for First-Year Experience courses focusing on why people eat differently and how food represents culture and identity.

Similar to the President's Innovation Fund, awarded annually to faculty and staff projects, this fund was launched to encourage student-initiated pilot projects. The selected projects have long-term, wide-reaching potential to foster transformative learning on and off campus.

President Thayne cited that one of the major institutional goals for the College is "to create a demonstrably superior academic and co-curricular experience for our students that prepare graduates for successful performance in the competitive national and international market."

Students were invited to formulate proposals and submit them for review during the fall semester. A total of $25,000 was available in three categories:

- Innovative programming that enhances the educational and/or co-curricular experience of students or programs.

- Strategic focus funding that considers initiatives that incorporate aspects of the Envision 2020 strategic plan.

- Program Enhancement funding intended to improve current programs and/or initiatives.