Fall 2025 grants awarded for applied learning

Fall 2025 Applied Learning Experiences Incentive Grants awarded

Applied Learning Experiences (ALE) awarded incentive grants to 13 K-State faculty members or collaborative groups for their innovative course proposals that aim to earn an ALE designation while enhancing the student experience.

These faculty members serving as project leads will receive funding next month:

  • Heather Bailey, Aging Well: Lessons from Blue Zones
  • Dena Bunnel, Global Agriculture Solutions & Leadership Program
  • Sydney Cochran, Community Outreach for Nutrition and Well-Being
  • Huan Cui, Paleo-Climate Adventures through Time (Paleo-CAT): Tracing Kansas' Lost Glaciers via Integrated Field and Laboratory Learning
  • Sabine Emonts, Transdisciplinary Case Study Competition on Sustainability in Agriculture
  • Nick Homburg, Stories from the Last Frontier: Alaska in Focus, a study away program
  • Nathan Klembara, Deeper Digs: A Rejuvenated Anthropology Curriculum for Career Competence
  • Yun Liang, From Classroom to National Parks
  • Alyssa Morris, "K-State Reed Lab" and MKL Reeds Partnership: Creating Internships and Graduate Assistantships for K-State Oboists
  • Isis S.P.C. Scott, Field Methods in Hydrology
  • Andrew Smith, ALE Video Podcasting Studio
  • Ashlee Westerhold, Returning to the Farm
  • Ninghao Zhu, Entrepreneurship in Healthcare Technology (BME Hub)

"We are pleased that we can support a wide range of faculty-led proposals through the grant process. The ability to provide all students with a high-impact experience is our goal, and these grant-supported programs and courses will provide a solid foundation in pursuit of the imperative," said Katie Kingery-Page, Co-Chair of the USCALE Grant Committee.

Beginning in the spring semester, recipients will integrate elements of Applied Learning Experiences (ALE) into their courses and prepare submissions for ALE course designation.

"There is a great opportunity to ensure all students have access to quality Applied Learning Experiences. By implementing the designation process, we can ensure that each student enrolled in an ALE-designated course has a high-impact experience, regardless of their field of study or college. We appreciate the ALE Grants Subcommittee and all of their work to complete this awarding process in support of meeting the imperative in the Next-Gen Strategic Plan," said Julie & Roger Davis, Executive Director of Applied Learning, Craig Schroeder.

This year, ALE awarded more than $380,000 to faculty across the K-State community to integrate applied learning experiences into their curriculum.

The ALE team is ready to support all faculty and staff in advancing applied learning experiences and reaching 100% student participation by 2030. Facu ty can access resources here, or you can contact us at appliedlearning@ksu.edu.