December 2017

• Bill Ensign received $15,000 to participate in a research project conducted by The Nature Conservancy, Paulding County, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service that seeks to eliminate a major barrier to fish passage in the Raccoon Creek aquatic community, home to 43 native fishes.
• A team of faculty from Information Technology, led by Meng Han and including Lei Li, Zhigang Li, Svetlana Pelstsverger, Ming Yang, Guangzhi Zheng, received $30,000 from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to transform five mobile and network related courses using no-cost-to-students learning materials. The project aims to reduce the financial burden imposed by the high cost of textbooks, as well as develop free and open-access learning materials that offer equivalent or better educational effectiveness than traditional textbooks.
• Daniel Farr and Angela Nava received $10,800 from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to transform the face-to-face instructional format and the online teaching format of a foundational criminal justice course by developing no-cost course materials in support of the USG initiative to reduce student debt.
• Jeffrey Yunek and Benjamin Wadsworth received $10,800 from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to develop no-cost-to-students materials for four courses in aural skills. In addition to saving students money, the transformation from a traditional textbook to an online one allows the faculty to create a more accessible, interactive, and flexible resource to promote student success in acquiring music dictation skills.
• Alan Kirk received $226,769 from Georgia State University and the Department of Education through the federal title IV-E program to provide scholarships for students in Master of Social Work program with the goal of recruiting graduates to join the Department of Family and Children Services. Kennesaw State’s Master of Social Work Program serves DFCS offices in 18 counties of Northwest Georgia, most of which are rural and in need of qualified DFCS workers.

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• Cobb EMC – The Cobb EMC Community Foundation has donated $6,000 to help fund the iTeach MakerBus. The MakerBus is a mobile initiative of the Bagwell College of Education and will bring access to technology and education directly to K-12 students. One part classroom, one part tech lab, one part think tank, the 30-foot bus will travel to K-12 schools, and bringing access to education in problem solving, writing and design to local students.
• Kroger/Publix Charities – Kroger and Publix Super Market Charities have each made generous gifts in support of CARE, Campus Awareness, Resource & Empowerment services. Kroger donated $12,500 and Publix Super Markets Charities has donated another $5,000. CARE was formed several years ago in response to students who at times find themselves without food or shelter.  It is a comprehensive initiative that connects homeless students and food insecure students with support services on campus and off. In 2016, the Care Center distributed 10,780 pounds of food - roughly 490 bags for food insecure Kennesaw State students.
• GreyStone Power – GreyStone Power Foundation has donated $5,000 in support of the Advanced Majors Program for students in the College of Science and Mathematics. The program was designed to attract academically talented high school seniors as they consider their college choices. As incoming freshman at KSU, these students are part of a cohort, with special opportunities for intellectual adventure beyond the average college experience. 
• Lockheed Martin – Lockheed Martin has donated more than $53,000 to support scholarships for STEM students and the honorary society Beta Gamma Sigma. Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in an undergraduate or master’s program at a school accredited by the AACSB - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
• Marietta Non-Destructive Testing – Marietta Non-Destructive Testing of Marietta, Ga. made a gift of $10,000 In support of the Formula SAE Motorsports Team ($5,000), and also to assist in funding the 2017 Pumpkin Launch ($5,000), which took place Oct. 26 on the Marietta Campus. Three of the five principals of Marietta Non-Destructive Testing are SPSU alumni: Daryle Higginbotham, Steve Norred and Curtis Cooper.
• Barbara Swindell – Barbara Swindell left KSU $233,000 to endow a scholarship for study abroad in the School of Art & Design. The Barbara Jane Swindell Scholarship for European Studies will fund two scholarships annually for junior or senior art or art education majors to study art in Europe. Ms. Swindell was on the faculty of the School of Art & Design when she retired. She died Sept. 12, 2013.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.