Pickleball With a Purpose

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Michael Delgado Interdisciplinary Philip Dodd Interdisciplinary
Advisor(s): Philip Dodd Interdisciplinary
Location: Basement, Table 10, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

After-school programs can be highly beneficial to elementary school students. Pickleball With a Purpose is a weekly after-school program founded by TCU students with support from the Experiential Projects to Impact the Community (EPIC) committee. This program works with a local elementary school in Crowley Independent School District (CISD). Pickleball appeals to all ages because it can be picked up relatively quickly, regardless of skill level. As part of the program, pickleball was introduced to 4th and 5th graders at Meadowcreek Elementary by teaching a two-week clinic introducing foundational paddle skills during P.E. classes. Students in the after-school program engage in clinics, drills, and games to further develop their communication skills while fostering connections with mentors from TCU. The EPIC committee's funding and our partnership with the Selkirk Growth Program have allowed us to supply the elementary school with equipment such as nets, balls, and paddles. The purpose of the Meadowcreek Pickleball Club is to provide elementary school students with a safe environment where they can grow as individuals while learning a new sport.

Healthy Food Insecurity

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): May Nguyen Biology Thien Ly Nguyen Biology
Advisor(s): Maria Martinez Nutritional Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 4, Position 3, 1:45-3:45

New Smiles Drive

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Cayla Prophater Interdisciplinary Christian Cargile Interdisciplinary Aimee Garibay Interdisciplinary Emma Graham Interdisciplinary Macyn Willingham Interdisciplinary
Advisor(s): Heidi Conrad Interdisciplinary
Location: Second Floor, Table 1, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Even though they are completely preventable, cavities are the leading chronic childhood disease in America. The “New Smiles Drive” is a community outreach project with a mission to improve Fort Worth's oral hygiene knowledge and access to essential hygiene supplies. This project has provided dental supplies and hygiene education to the patients at the Mercy Clinic of Fort Worth. The donation of dental hygiene bags is instrumental in providing the materials necessary for quality health care. However, the donations are only half of the mission. Each donation bag includes a laminated education card containing detailed instructions on how to maintain good oral health as well as recommendations provided by Fort Worth dentists. The educational aspect of this project will leave a lasting impact on the community and teach the community essential oral hygiene care.

Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Clinics

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Quinceola Reid Biology Emily Van Dyck Biology
Advisor(s): Anthony Crowder Interdisciplinary
Location: Basement, Table 7, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Swimming is a skill that is often assumed to be commonplace. However, in a study from 2017-2021, 411 children fatally drowned in Texas; 32 drownings were from Tarrant County (Texas Child Drowning Statistics). In 2019, 23 Tarrant County drowning deaths were among adults (Drowning in Tarrant County). Two community organizations, The Fort Worth Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Coalition (FWDPC) and the YMCA Fort Worth (YMCA FW), conduct dedicated summer programs to teach children and adults in-water and classroom-based water safety strategies. This grant project supports its community partners by advertising for/providing volunteers, which enables the accommodation of more participants per clinic. In addition, this grant project provided occupational health supplies (sunscreen and sunglasses) to their community partner to mitigate the prolonged sun exposure commonly faced by their volunteers. Through this project, TCU students have engaged with these organizations, supported their objectives, and directly improved drowning statistics within the Fort Worth community.

"TCU Jeopardy Night": Changing the Narrative of Contributions by Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Zach Rouseau Biology Grace Bobo Chemistry & Biochemistry Jack Bonnell Chemistry & Biochemistry Precious Castillo Chemistry & Biochemistry Audrey Dolt Biology Tatum Harvey Biology Lola Kouretas Chemistry & Biochemistry Christina Mantsorov Chemistry & Biochemistry Chie Nguyen Biology Kiet Nguyen Biology
Advisor(s): Kayla Green Chemistry & Biochemistry Heidi Conrad Chemistry & Biochemistry Julie Fry Chemistry & Biochemistry
Location: Basement, Table 5, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Throughout history, it has been perceived that significant advancements in STEM have been a result of primarily white males’ accomplishments. To help correct this misconception on our campus, TCU Chemistry Club has initiated “TCU Jeopardy Game Night”. This is an initiative where students, staff, and organizations in STEM throughout the year get exposed to and educated on the accomplishments in the history of diverse groups underrepresented in STEM with an emphasis in chemistry through an engaging and interactive mechanism. This spring term, our organization will host a Jeopardy-style game night with trivia questions over the material presented and prizes purchased with the ACS DEIR Grant. This material serves as an incentive toward the ultimate goal of educating our campus population regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect for scientists who have not been acknowledged for their exceptional work.