AbstractExperiential learning by high school students in the Lincoln Public Schools (Nebraska) has been stimulated by small grant support in the areas of physical and natural sciences, humanities, languages, and other fields. Initiated in 1991, the Todd Francis Memorial Creative Research Awards have been provided to students who apply each fall for grants from $100-200 to pay for research-related expenses such as materials, information resources, and travel. These awards have funded 98 projects and involved 188 students as individuals or research teams, plus three class projects. There have been 27 high school faculty mentors involved. Often the projects are presented at the local, state, and national science fair and history day competitions. Among the noteworthy projects have been: Constructing a Working Copy of the Gutenberg Press (a full scale copy of the 1450 press that could be disassembled and transported to history competitions); The Forced Ponca Migration (implications of the May 1877 federally mandated march of the Ponca from South Dakota to Oklahoma); Women in World War I (chronicle of women’s roles in the First World War); Construction of a Telescope (working telescope constructed from locally-available materials); Meeting at the Newport Parish Church (two women in Civil War period costumes, one from the North and one from the South, meet on the church steps while seeking news of their husbands, and discuss the meaning of war); Ecological Fiction (purchase of books and publishing student reviews of each for school library); and Rights of Homosexuals in the U.S. Air Force (interviews of active duty service men and women at SAC Headquarters near Omaha). These socially-relevant projects have impacted the future studies and lives of many students in Lincoln. The awards were established in memory of Todd Erik Francis (1967-1990).

Experiential Learning Catalyzed by Memorial Creative Research AwardsRob McEntarffer, Instructional Media, Lincoln Public Schools, Charles Francis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Barbara Francis, Montessori School for Young Children, Lincoln

Comments from StudentsWendy Leuenberger graduated in 2010, and completed a project on the early housing subdivisions in the U.S. “The most lasting and rewarding aspects of my projects are their continued use. My Levittown documentary is being shown at the Historical Society in Levittown, New York for visitors. Another promo video I made is being used across the state to get students and teachers involved in History Day.”Karis Overton completed a project on William Randolph Hearst: defining the Modern Media, an experience which helped her greatly in her university in her current research job. She says, “It fostered growth and development of skills in writing, reading comprehension, technology, and public speaking, all of which I have put to use in college. This research project also allowed me to develop responsibility, integrity, and academic ambition.”

Todd Eric Francis, 1967-1990Todd Francis was born in Ithaca, New York, and spent most of his early years in Colombia. He later attended public schools in Lincoln, Nebraska, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Grinnell College in Iowa. He was fluent in Spanish and conversant in French, and worked on a farm in rural Spain and translated computer software in Madrid. At the time of his death, he was an intern studying prairie ecosystems at The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas.

Meeting at the Newport Parish Church: Tasha Farrar and Katie Richstatter wrote and played the roles of two young wives, one from the North and one from the South, who met on the church steps while seeking news of their husbands in the Civil War. Dressed in period costumes they sewed themselves, the two women discussed the futillity of war and their likely future as widows after this massive conflict. [History Day Project, 1992]

The Forced Ponca Migration and its Effects: Alexi Burns, Charlotte Jensen, Amanda Cue, and Amanda Murphy researched the federally mandated march of the Ponca tribe from South Dakota to Oklahome, the tragedies along the way, and the lasting implications of this act. [History Day, 1998]

Ecology Fiction Review:Lisa Belden used grant funds to purchase a small collection of current books on ecology and environment, recruited classmates to read and write reviews, then placed both the books and the reviews in a special place in the school library. [A joint project for her science and literature classes, 1991]

Alluminum Can Collection:Two special needs life science classes set up a recycling program on the Southeast High School campus, and used the funds for conservation projects [1991]

Gutenberg Printing Press:Jameson Dager worked from original drawings to figure out dimensions and materials, then constructed a working model of the Gutenberg press. It was built to be disassembled for transport to the History Day contest in Washington DC, and he placed high in the competition. He printed small brochures on the press that described its history and his methods of construction [2004].

Students for Choice Website:Erin Roth and Emily Green created a web site for students to communicate about local events and key reference materials related to women’s choices in family planning. [Project in literature and computer science]

Many Noteworthy Projects Emerged over 20 Years:

Rights of Homosexuals in the U.S. Armed Forces (Jennifer Carney, Heidi Wall, Katie Wreed, 1991)Gettysburg: the Battle for a Nation (Ramneek Bhogal & Jessica Kennedy, 1992)Construction of a Telescope (David Milligan, 1992)Environmental Documentary (Melissa Jacobs, 1993)The Influence of Advertising (Aaron Kupcinski, 1993)How Lives and Geography of Native Americans have Changed (Porter Chollet, Jack McHenry, Bridget McMullen, Aaron Rea, Beth Sherry, 1994)The Scopes Trial: a Study in Compromise (Aaron Hames, Tim Beard, Thomas Burns, C.J. Brown, 1995)Southeast Lincoln Water Quality (Aaron Schepers, 1995)The Tale of Two Cultures (Teresa Hoa Vuong, 1997)Developmental Impact on Wilderness Park (Erin Cox, 1999)Women in World War I (Ashelyn Kent, Cody Christline, 2000)Rez Dogs: the Role of Feral Dogs on the Santee Sioux Reservation (Maddie McCollister, 2011; see photo below)

Conclusions:We are convinced after seeing the results of these projects, talking with students, and reading their reports that modest financial support from the Todd Francis awards has provided remarkable stimulus for creative experiential learning by high school students in Lincoln, Nebraska. We plan to continue the program.