As a senior in Environmental Studies I have chosen to complete my service learning capstone project at the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) since I am one of the co-directors managing the non-profit organization. CCAT is a student run sustainable living demonstration site that utilizes appropriate technology. While at CCAT I have analyzed and critiqued how social systems and natural systems overlay one another creating a sustainable relationship. Living lighter and in tune with the local environment is not only doable but rewarding and beneficial. My service learning project has helped to fill part of the gap between where I am now and where I aim to be professionally.

I recently completed a midterm project in which I discovered the renowned photographer Kenro Izu. His unique use of negative space, meticulous and innovative coloring methods sparked a fire in my artistic soul. In October of last year, I lost my best friend and cousin. The gravity of grief is immeasurable and there is no right or wrong way to experience loss. Through artistic inspiration and the pursuit of expression, I have begun to create a space for healing in my life. I would like to have the opportunity to share the methods that I have used to construct peace in my life through my work.

End of Life, A Talking Circle Grief support groups are offered to the bereaved, after the death of a loved one, yet are rarely made available to those who have been given a terminal diagnosis. This vulnerable and under-serve population may greatly benefit from having an outlet for complex new emotions, the experience of connectedness, understanding and support from others who are facing their own mortality. The purpose of this project is to develop a pilot support group model serving individuals facing end of life to assess the demand for and value of such an intervention. Research on promising practices with support groups for terminally-ill patients was combined with a community-

Indigenous peoples have always had a balanced nutritional diet. In my poster, I want to dive into the connection between Diabetes and its connection to Indigenous people. Modern day foods are nothing comparable to the cultivated food and resources the indigenous people thrived on. I feel that because of this epidemic, Indigenous people are more susceptible to having diabetes through their bodies not recognizing “modern day food” as real food. Due to the high concentrations of sugar and fatty foods today, this has created a wave of health issues for Indigenous peoples. More simply, their bodies struggle to process the unnecessary garbage that we choose to put in our bodies daily.

Art 100 (Global Perspectives in Art) has been fully online for several years. For Spring 2019, Professor Julie Alderson converted the class to a blended format - retaining significant online components, but also introducing weekly face to face elements. In converting the class, she enlisted three advanced Art Education students - Liz Gordon, Alexa Pante and Maya Strauss, to freshen up the How To videos associated with the class. This presentation will present these videos which were designed to help students complete art projects for the course.

The prevalent issue of students experiencing homelessness at Humboldt State University is addressed in our project. We  found that students have the resiliency to stay in school and continue pursuing a higher education despite the insecurities of homelessness. We interviewed ten amazing students who gave testimony to the housing crisis affecting Humboldt County. These students found resiliency in their families, their community, their friends, and other effective resources. Their dedication to school was met with integrity, overcoming the barriers preventing them from housing all while pursuing a degree .

An important aspect in biological anthropology and forensic cases is determining an individual’s stature in life. Stature estimation involves the use of formulas that have been derived from measurements taken from an individual’s bones. Bones, in life, are encased in the body, which is a wet environment. Our research looks at the postmortem taphonomic processes which may lead to the bone shrinking after death, in the relatively dryer outside environment. Bone shrinkage could have an impact on stature estimations in forensic and other anthropological cases. Our preliminary findings indicate that environment and time affect bone shrinkage rates.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. Kidney damage is not reversible, but CKD can be stopped or its progression can be slowed. Diabetes and hypertension are the two main causes of CKD. Medical directors, nurse leaders, home care providers, and public health officials must be aware of the risks and take action to screen patients and educate them on how to prevent or manage CKD. Exercise lowers blood glucose and blood pressure and can prevent CKD. Smartwatches can be used by patients and monitored by healthcare providers to adjust physical activity, which can help stop or slow the progression of CKD.

This poster presents the experience of working at a local preschool in the area. I have gained a lot of knowledge on what it is like to be in a preschool classroom setting. Before starting my service learning, I did not know what to expect, but now I can say that this experience has allowed me to direct myself to a future career that might be gratifying. I got to experience hands experience working with children for a couple of hours each day and see how the teachers interacted with children. I learn about some of the practices that are being used to meet the unique needs of each child. This experience has helped me improve my communication skills and confidence, explore future careers.

Rural communities like Del Norte County face additional challenges in obtaining a quality education compared with urban areas. According to the Rural Families Data Center, this achievement gap is due to excessive absence and truancy, low socioeconomic status, poverty, and high school dropout rates. Archival data from the last ten years was obtained from the CDE DataQuest website and analyzed to inform a report created by the California Center for Rural Policy for dissemination throughout the community. Generally test scores were lower for Del Norte and low-income students. These results show that more attention must be paid to education systems in rural communities to improve outcomes.