Pepperdine University

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY CARES ACT GRANT - INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY CARES ACT GRANT - STUDENT FUNDS

THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM (FGP) IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM THAT CLOSES THE SOCIAL SUPPORT GAPS IN THE LIVES OF VALUABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE RETIRED OR OUT OF THE WORKFORCE AND LOW-INCOME, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO MEET THE EMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF VULNERABLE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES. SINCE 1972, PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY HAS SUCCESSFULLY SPONSORED THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM (FGP), PAIRING ELDERLY CITIZENS WITH AT-RISK YOUTH FROM IMPOVERISHED, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES (LA) AREA. THROUGH A SYMBIOTIC MODEL, FGP SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDES COMPANIONSHIP FOR ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS AND MENTORSHIP TO YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. FGP PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT, WORKING TO PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS AND SUCCESS IN YOUTH (K-12). FGP PURPOSEFULLY TARGETS POPULATIONS IN HIGHLY IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS OF SOUTH CENTRAL LA. WITHIN FGP'S PRIMARY SERVICE AREA, A STARTLING 33% OF FAMILIES LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL ($25,750 ANNUALLY FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR IN 2019) -- OVER DOUBLE THE RATE IN CALIFORNIA (11.8%) AND THE U.S. (12.3%). MOREOVER, RECENT POLLING DATA SHOWS THAT APPROXIMATELY 56% OF LA HOUSEHOLDS POLLED ARE FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WITH LATINO AND BLACK HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING THE GREATEST HARDSHIP, 71% AND 52% RESPECTIVELY. UNDER CONDITIONS OF SIGNIFICANT POVERTY, CHILDREN EXPERIENCE ENHANCED RISK OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CRITICAL AREAS OF LANGUAGE, LITERACY, AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION. THROUGH ITS INNOVATIVE STRUCTURE, FGP WORKS TO MITIGATE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES AND RISKS FOR VULNERABLE YOUTH BY PROVIDING A SOURCE OF MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT FROM ITS FOSTER GRANDPARENTS. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ITS IMPORTANT WORK THROUGH THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM, PEPPERDINE IS REQUESTING SUPPORT FROM AMERICORPS. IN ORDER TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH, PEPPERDINE'S FGP WILL PAIR 168 SENIOR CITIZENS (FGP GRANDPARENTS) WITH YOUTH FROM THE FOLLOWING TARGETED GROUPS: 1) HEAD START PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AGES 3-5; 2) SPECIALIZED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED AND/OR DISABLED YOUTH; 3) K-12 STUDENTS NEEDING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND LITERACY; AND 4) VULNERABLE YOUTH NEEDING ADULT SUPPORT WHILE PARENTS ARE BEING TREATED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS WILL FACILITATE A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES WITH THEIR YOUTH PARTNERS INCLUDING: ASSISTING IN HEAD START AND K-12 CLASSROOMS, READING, TUTORING, MENTORING, SOCIALIZING (PLAYING EDUCATIONAL GAMES, READING, TALKING, WALKING, LISTENING, AND SHARING MEALS), AND SUPPORTING YOUTH WHOSE PARENTS ARE RECEIVING REHABILITATIVE TREATMENT. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT INCLUDE: INCREASED SCHOOL READINESS, ENHANCED LANGUAGE AND LITERACY SKILLS, IMPROVED CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION, HEIGHTENED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT, AND GREATER SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SKILLS FOR PARTICIPATING YOUTH.

SINCE 1972, PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY HAS SUCCESSFULLY SPONSORED THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM (FGP). FGP IS AN INNOVATIVE, MULTIGENERATIONAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT PAIRS ELDERLY CITIZENS WITH AT-RISK YOUTH FROM IMPOVERISHED, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES (LA) AREA. THROUGH A SYMBIOTIC MODEL, FGP SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDES COMPANIONSHIP FOR ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS AND MENTORSHIP TO YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. FGP PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT, WORKING TO PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS AND SUCCESS IN YOUTH (K-12). FGP PURPOSEFULLY TARGETS POPULATIONS IN HIGHLY IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS OF SOUTH CENTRAL LA. MORE THAN 38% OF RESIDENTS OF LA COUNTY LIVE IN ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, WHILE 18% LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE ($28,290 ANNUALLY FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR). COMPARATIVELY, WITHIN FGP'S PRIMARY SERVICE AREA, A STARTLING 52% OF FAMILIES LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. UNDER CONDITIONS OF SIGNIFICANT POVERTY, CHILDREN EXPERIENCE ENHANCED RISK OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CRITICAL AREAS OF LANGUAGE, LITERACY, AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION. THROUGH ITS INNOVATIVE STRUCTURE, FGP WORKS TO MITIGATE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES AND RISKS FOR VULNERABLE YOUTH BY PROVIDING A SOURCE OF MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT FROM ITS FOSTER GRANDPARENTS. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ITS IMPORTANT WORK THROUGH FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM, PEPPERDINE IS REQUESTING SUPPORT FROM THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. IN ORDER TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH, PEPPERDINE'S FGP WILL PAIR 104 SENIOR CITIZENS (FGP VOLUNTEERS) WITH YOUTH FROM THE FOLLOWING TARGETED GROUPS: 1) HEAD START PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AGES 3-5; 2) SPECIALIZED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED AND/OR DISABLED YOUTH; 3) K-12 STUDENTS NEEDING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND LITERACY; AND 4) VULNERABLE YOUTH NEEDING ADULT SUPPORT WHILE PARENTS ARE BEING TREATED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS WILL FACILITATE A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES WITH THEIR YOUTH PARTNERS INCLUDING: ASSISTING IN HEAD START AND K-12 CLASSROOMS, READING, TUTORING, MENTORING, SOCIALIZING (PLAYING EDUCATIONAL GAMES, READING, TALKING, WALKING, LISTENING, AND SHARING MEALS), AND SUPPORTING YOUTH WHOSE PARENTS ARE RECEIVING REHABILITATIVE TREATMENT. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT INCLUDE INCREASED SCHOOL READINESS, ENHANCED LANGUAGE AND LITERACY SKILLS, IMPROVED CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION, HEIGHTENED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT, AND GREATER SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SKILLS FOR PARTICIPATING YOUTH.

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2024-2025 FGP PROGRAM. THIS AWARD IS APPROVED TO ADD $2,500 IN ONE-TIME ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR TRAVEL RELATED TO TRAINING IN FY 24. YOUR 2024-2025 STATUTORY MATCH IS 10% AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 10.23%.

BROADENING PARTICIPATION, BUILDING STEM COMPETENCIES, AND STRENGTHENING IDENTITY FORMATION THROUGH CROSS-CULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IN PROJECT-BASED LEARNING -THIS PROJECT ENGAGES PRE-COLLEGE LATINX, BLACK, AND INDIGENOUS LEARNERS, EDUCATORS, AND COLLABORATING UNDERGRADUATES IN AN INTERNATIONAL, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AND MEDIA-MAKING COMMUNITY IN AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM). THE PROJECT ADDRESSES KEY CHALLENGES INCLUDING BROADENING PARTICIPATION IN INFORMAL STEM LEARNING, DEVELOPING CAPACITY FOR LEADING INFORMAL STEM PROGRAMS, AND BUILDING STRONGER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN STEM LEARNING AND PERSONAL AND SOCIAL IDENTITY FORMATION DURING ADOLESCENCE. THE PROJECT?S COMMUNITY OF PARTICIPANTS IS AN ASSET-BASED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT TREATS EACH PARTICIPANT, THEIR BACKGROUND, SKILLS, AND INTERESTS AS UNIQUELY BENEFICIAL TO THE WHOLE. LED BY MENTORS AT EACH HUB (TEACHERS, LEADERS FROM SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS, OR OTHER OUT-OF-SCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS), PARTICIPANTS COLLABORATE WITH PEERS FROM THE US AND FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. THE COLLABORATIONS ENCOMPASS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF STEM PROJECTS. PARTICIPANTS ALSO CREATE DIGITAL MEDIA TO COMMUNICATE THEIR PROJECTS. THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES REFLECT A FOCUS ON STEM CONTENT, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNICATION, IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT THAT INCLUDES SCHOOL-AGE LEARNERS FROM THE US AND PEERS FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, ASIA, AND SUB-SAHARA. THE COMBINATION OF THE SOPHISTICATED STEM COMPETENCIES SKILLS FOR COLLABORATING ACROSS INTERNATIONAL AND CULTURAL BOUNDARIES, AND MEDIA-SAVVY COMMUNICATION ABILITIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE NATION?S FUTURE STEM WORKFORCE AND TO BUILDING A SCIENTIFICALLY VIBRANT CITIZENRY. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES TWO PRIMARY RESEARCH QUESTIONS CO-DEVELOPED WITH TEACHERS AND OTHER INFORMAL SCIENCE PROVIDERS. THE FIRST RESEARCH QUESTION INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING AND OPTIMIZING CONDITIONS FOR BROADENING PARTICIPATION THROUGH THIS TYPE OF DISTRIBUTED OR VIRTUAL COLLABORATION ACROSS BOUNDARIES OF CULTURE, RACE, GENDER, ABILITY, NATIONALITY, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. THE PROJECT FEATURES A DESIGN EXPERIMENT BY WHICH THE OVERALL COMMUNITY OF PARTICIPANTS COMPRISES FOUR SEPARATE HUBS, EACH HOSTED BY THE DIFFERENT PROJECT PARTNERS (PRIMARILY TEACHERS). EDUCATORS DEVISE, TEST, AND REVISE ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS FOR ORGANIZING STEM COLLABORATIONS. PUBLICATION OF THESE TEACHER-LED DESIGNS AND THEIR EVALUATION ARE AMONG THE PRIMARY OUTPUTS OF THE PROJECT. THE DESIGNS MODIFY AND IMPROVE A TEMPLATE DEVELOPED UNDER THIS PROJECT?S PROOF-OF-CONCEPT PRECURSOR (NSF1612824). THE SECOND RESEARCH QUESTION ADDRESSES HOW GROWTH IN STEM ABILITIES, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNICATION MUTUALLY REINFORCE ADOLESCENT PERSONAL AND SOCIAL IDENTITY FORMATION. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS IN THE US WILL INTENTIONALLY REFLECT HETEROGENEOUS BACKGROUNDS. THE PROJECT ANALYSIS WILL FOCUS ON WHETHER CULTURAL AND NATIONAL CROSS-BOUNDARY COLLABORATION CAN STRENGTHEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEARNERS' PERSONAL IDENTITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. THE PROJECT METHODOLOGY RELIES HEAVILY ON QUANTITATIVE ETHNOGRAPHY AND EPISTEMIC NETWORK ANALYSIS. THIS APPROACH ENABLES THE CREATION OF VISUAL MODELS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CONSTRUCTS RELEVANT TO EACH RESEARCH QUESTION, ALONG WITH CHANGES BETWEEN AND WITHIN GROUPS. THE CONSTRUCTS INCLUDE VARIATIONS OF AUTONOMY, COMPETENCE, AND CONNECTION (PILLARS OF SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY) IN TRACING IDENTITY FORMATION AND STEM ABILITIES. THE QUANTITATIVE ETHNOGRAPHY APPROACH PROVIDES STATISTICALLY RELIABLE SCAFFOLDING AND INSIGHTS ABOUT THE HUB DESIGNS AND THEIR EFFICACY IN PROMOTING GOALS OF BROADENING PARTICIPATION AND FOSTERING MUTUALLY REINFORCING STEM COMPETENCIES AND IDENTITY FORMATION. THIS TYPE OF VIRTUAL COLLABORATION, CROSSING BOUNDARIES OF CULTURE, NATIONALITY, ETHNICITY, AGE, GENDER, ECONOMIC STRATA, OR ABILITY, CAN REALISTICALLY BE EXPECTED TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN NEXT-GENERATION LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH OUT-OF-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO REACH 120 U.S. AND 80 NON-U.S. STUDENTS ANNUALLY. RESEARCH FINDINGS, DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND CURRICULA WILL BE WIDELY DISSEMINATED TO RESEARCHERS, DESIGNERS, PROGRAM DEVELOPERS, INFORMAL SCIENCE INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THIS RESEARCH PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE ADVANCING INFORMAL STEM LEARNING (AISL) PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO (A) ADVANCE NEW APPROACHES TO AND EVIDENCE-BASED UNDERSTANDING OF THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF STEM LEARNING IN INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTS; (B) PROVIDE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS FOR BROADENING ACCESS TO AND ENGAGEMENT IN STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES; (C) ADVANCE INNOVATIVE RESEARCH ON AND ASSESSMENT OF STEM LEARNING IN INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTS; AND (D) ENGAGE THE PUBLIC OF ALL AGES IN LEARNING STEM IN INFORMAL ENVIRONMENTS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

SWIFT AND CERTAIN SANCTIONS TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCE CENTER

RESEARCH ON AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR STEM MEDIA MAKING AND STUDENT-LED PARTICIPATORY TEACHING

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

072280175 1095272800024255 PACIFIC COAST HWY

ENGAGES PERSONS 55 AND OLDER IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICE TO CHILDREN IN NEED

ROOTS OF AMERICAN ORDER SUMMER CERTIFICATE SEMINARS FOR UNDERGRADUATES AND FACULTY SEMINAR

HONEST OPPORTUNITY PROBATION WITH ENFORCEMENT (HOPE): DEMONSTRATION FIELD EXPERIMENT (DFE) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA) PROGRAM

ENGAGES PERSONS 55 AND OLDER IN SUPPORTIVE SERVICE TO CHILDREN IN NEED

NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION RESEARCH

FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS AS SCHOLARS

BRC-BIO: HIGH NUTRIENT SUBMARINE GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE DELIVERY EFFECTS ON COASTAL PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY ON CORAL REEFS IN MAUNALUA BAY, HAWAII -EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE STRESSORS ON COASTAL COMMUNITY DYNAMICS IS CRUCIAL. IN DOING SO, RESEARCHERS CAN UNDERSTAND THE RESILIENCE OF THESE ECOSYSTEMS, PREPARE COASTAL MANAGEMENT FOR FUTURE SCENARIOS, AND AID IN PRIORITIZING RESTORATION EFFORTS. WITH AT LEAST 52% OF THE US POPULATION LIVING IN AREAS THAT DRAIN INTO COASTAL WATERSHEDS, IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR RESEARCHERS TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF NUTRIENT POLLUTION IN COASTAL SYSTEMS. SUBMARINE GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE (SGD) IS DEFINED AS ANY AND ALL FLOW OF WATER FROM THE SEABED TO THE COASTAL OCEAN. IN AREAS WHERE THE NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION OF COASTAL GROUNDWATER HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED BY CHANGING LAND USE, NUTRIENT LOADING TO COASTAL WATERS VIA SGD HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH ALGAE BLOOMS AND SHIFTS IN THE COMMUNITY COMPOSITION. THIS RESEARCH WILL CHARACTERIZE LAND-BASED SOURCES OF NUTRIENT POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON CORAL REEF PRODUCTIVITY AND COMMUNITY COMPOSITION. THE RESULTS FROM THIS RESEARCH WILL BE SHARED WITH STATE ENTITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE RESULTS WILL AID A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON RESTORING THE STUDY SITE IN IDENTIFYING AND PRIORITIZING RESTORATION SITES. THIS PROGRAM WILL ENGAGE UP TO 10 UNDERGRADUATES AND ONE POST BACCALAUREATE. PEER-REVIEWED STRATEGIES FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETAINMENT OF UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY STUDENTS, SUCH AS FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND SUMMER-LONG FIELD-BASED RESEARCH, WILL BE USED. MAUNALUA BAY (O?AHU, HI) HAS EXPERIENCED DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASE IN POPULATION OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS. THIS HAS AFFECTED THE WATER QUALITY IN NEAR SHORE CORAL REEFS. DUE TO THE RANGE OF ONSITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS DENSITY, DISCRETE SGD, AND ITS CORAL REEF HABITATS, MAUNALUA BAY IS A MODEL SYSTEM TO STUDY LAND-BASED EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY AND PRIMARY PRODUCTION ON CORAL REEF COMMUNITIES. THE MAIN SOURCE OF LAND-BASED INORGANIC NUTRIENTS IN MAUNALUA BAY IS SGD, WHICH DELIVERS BOTH FRESHWATER AND INORGANIC NUTRIENTS. THIS RESEARCH WILL USE NOVEL METHODS TO CHARACTERIZE SGD DELIVERY TO BOTH THE WATER COLUMN (DRONE THERMAL IMAGERY) AND BENTHOS (SENSORS MOORED TO THE REEF) OF TWO REEFS. THE WORK WILL ALSO QUANTIFY CARBON UPTAKE OF THE MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCERS ON ALGAL-DOMINATED REEFS. FINALLY, THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE ALGAE ON A REEF WITH SGD AND WITHOUT SGD WILL BE MODELED. THIS WORK WILL CLARIFY THE MAGNITUDE OF THE EFFECT OF SGD ON BOTH BENTHIC AND WATER COLUMN ALGAL PRODUCTIVITY OF REEFS. MORE THAN JUST UNDERSTANDING THE ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION, AND PRODUCTIVITY OF COASTAL ORGANISMS, THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL GET TO THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL MECHANISMS DRIVING THESE PATTERNS ON A LOCAL AND REGIONAL SCALE IN CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS. THIS PROJECT IS COFUNDED BY THE BUILDING RESEARCH CAPACITY OF NEW FACULTY IN BIOLOGY PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY AND THE DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF OCEAN SCIENCES. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

STUDENT MATHEMATICS LEARNING THROUGH SELF-EXPLANATION, PEER TUTORING AND DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION

BRC-BIO: WHICH WHOLE-PLANT TRAITS FACILITATE DESICCATION TOLERANCE IN THE VEGETATIVE TISSUES OF TERRESTRIAL AND EPIPHYTIC RESURRECTION FERNS? -RESURRECTION PLANTS CAN LOSE NEARLY ALL OF THEIR WATER TO ENTER A DORMANT, DRY STATE AND SUBSEQUENTLY REGAIN THEIR ORIGINAL FUNCTION WHEN REHYDRATED. SCIENTISTS HAVE BEGUN TO CHARACTERIZE THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF RECOVERY AT THE TISSUE LEVEL, BUT LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT LARGER SCALE TRAITS THAT ENABLE RECOVERY AT THE LEVEL OF THE WHOLE PLANT. THIS PROJECT WILL ATTEMPT TO DISCOVER THOSE KEY TRAITS BY COMPARING THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF CLOSELY RELATED RESURRECTION AND NON-RESURRECTION PLANTS. LAND-DWELLING AND TREE-DWELLING RESURRECTION PLANTS WILL BE COMPARED IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHICH TRAITS ARE COMMON TO ALL RESURRECTION PLANTS AND WHICH TRAITS ARE SPECIFIC TO A GIVEN HABITAT. HIGH RESOLUTION X-RAY TECHNOLOGY WILL BE USED TO VISUALIZE THE MOVEMENT OF WATER THROUGH RESURRECTION AND NON-RESURRECTION PLANTS DURING REHYDRATION. KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRAITS THAT ENABLE RECOVERY IN RESURRECTION PLANTS WILL IMPROVE THE CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF PLANT DROUGHT TOLERANCE AND INFORM ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF RESURRECTION PLANTS. THIS KNOWLEDGE MIGHT ALSO BE USED TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING CROPS THAT ARE MORE DROUGHT TOLERANT. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE EVOLUTION OF WHOLE-PLANT DESICCATION TOLERANCE (DT) BY SYSTEMATICALLY DETERMINING TRAITS ENABLING WHOLE-PLANT RECOVERY IN SIX DT LINEAGES OF FERNS AND LYCOPHYTES. ANATOMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL TRAITS RELATED TO WATER USE WILL BE ASSESSED IN HYDRATED PLANTS, COMPARING CLOSELY RELATED DT AND NON-DT SPECIES. DURING DEHYDRATION AND REHYDRATION, HIGH RESOLUTION MICRO-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (MICROCT) WILL BE USED TO ASSESS TIMING AND LEVEL OF RECOVERY IN DISTAL TISSUES. VASCULAR DT PLANTS WILL LIKELY EXHIBIT VARIED MECHANISMS OF RECOVERY ACCORDING TO THEIR HABITAT, WITH TERRESTRIAL (LAND-DWELLING) PLANTS RESURRECTING BY MEANS OF ROOT PRESSURE AND EPIPHYTIC (TREE-DWELLING) PLANTS RECOVERING VIA FOLIAR WATER UPTAKE. HOWEVER, OTHER TRAITS WILL LIKELY BE SHARED AMONG ALL DT FERNS AND LYCOPHYTES, SUCH AS TRAITS THAT MAINTAIN STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY IN THE DRY STATE AND TRAITS THAT FACILITATE TIMELY DESICCATION. INCLUDING BOTH SPOROPHYTES AND GAMETOPHYTES IN THIS COMPARISON WILL PROVIDE A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON FITNESS AND TRAIT COORDINATION BETWEEN LIFE HISTORY STAGES. FURTHERMORE, DT FERNS REPRESENT A NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT DT ADAPTATIONS TO THE EPIPHYTIC HABITAT AND ITS VARIED ECOLOGICAL NICHES. THIS STUDY WILL ELUCIDATE HOW DT HAS BEEN CO-OPTED FOR FERN SURVIVAL IN THE EPIPHYTIC HABITAT, BROADENING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH FERNS AND EPIPHYTES. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

REU SITE: BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS TO STRESS -- MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, ECOLOGICAL

EXP: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: A CYBER-ENSEMBLE OF INVERSION, IMMERSION, COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACES, QUERY AND MEDIA-MAKING IN MATHEMATICS CLASSROOMS

PREDICATE PROJECT: TARGETED RESEARCH ON TEACHER CREATIVITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF CONTENT STUDENT COGNITION AND DIGITAL MEDIA

INTEGRATING POPULATION GENOMICS AND MICROBIAL METAGENOMICS OF THE LONE STAR TICK, AN EXPANDING ARTHROPOD DISEASE VECTOR - INTEGRATING POPULATION GENOMICS AND MICROBIAL METAGENOMICS OF THE LONE STAR TICK, AN EXPANDING ARTHROPOD DISEASE VECTOR PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT TICKS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT VECTORS OF DISEASE-CAUSING PATHOGENS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE LONE STAR TICK, AMBLYOMMA AMERICANUM, IS A COMPETENT VECTOR OF VARIOUS PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS. THERE ARE SEVERAL CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE GAPS IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASIC BIOLOGY OF THE LONE STAR TICK, AN ARTHROPOD DISEASE VECTOR THAT IS RAPIDLY EXPANDING ITS GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION INTO THE MIDWEST AND NORTHEAST. LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT HOW THE DIVERSITY OF THE TICK’S GENOME AND THE MICROBIAL DIVERSITY OF THE TICK’S MICROBIOME AFFECT THE ABILITY OF SPECIFIC PATHOGENS TO INFECT A TICK. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO GENERATE AN INTEGRATED GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY FOR TICK-BORNE DISEASES THAT INCORPORATES THE GENOMIC DIVERSITY OF VECTOR, THE SPECIES DIVERSITY OF ITS MICROBIOME, AND THE PREVALENCE OF KNOWN PATHOGENS. THE OVERARCHING HYPOTHESIS IS THAT GENOMIC DIVERSITY OF TICK VECTORS IS POSITIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH MICROBIAL SPECIES DIVERSITY AND NEGATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH PATHOGEN PREVALENCE. THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR WILL USE NEXT-GENERATION DNA SEQUENCING TO TEST THE OVERARCHING HYPOTHESIS AND ACHIEVE THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT THROUGH THREE SPECIFIC AIMS: (1) INVESTIGATE THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF GENOMIC VARIATION AMONG POPULATIONS OF LONE STAR TICK NEAR THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN SPECIES RANGE BOUNDARIES. THE WORKING HYPOTHESIS IS THAT A CLINE OF GENOMIC DIVERSITY CORRESPONDS TO INCREASINGLY STRESSFUL CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AT THE EDGES OF THE SPECIES RANGE, SUGGESTING THAT RANGE EXPANSION COINCIDES WITH MICROEVOLUTIONARY CHANGE. (2) CHARACTERIZE THE MICROBIOME OF LONE STAR TICK AND ASSESS ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HOST GENOMIC DIVERSITY. THE WORKING HYPOTHESIS IS THAT GREATER GENOMIC DIVERSITY OF TICKS PERMITS A GREATER MICROBIAL SPECIES DIVERSITY IN TICKS, SUGGESTING THAT HOST GENOTYPE AFFECTS MICROBIOME COMPOSITION. (3) EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF GENOMIC DIVERSITY AND MICROBIAL DIVERSITY ON PATHOGEN INFECTION IN INDIVIDUAL TICKS. THE WORKING HYPOTHESIS IS THAT HIGH GENOMIC AND MICROBIAL DIVERSITY OF INDIVIDUAL TICKS REDUCES INFECTION BY PATHOGENIC BACTERIA, SUGGESTING THAT COMPETITIVE INTERACTIONS OF MICROBES INSIDE OF TICKS GOVERN THE PREVALENCE OF SPECIFIC TICK-BORNE PATHOGENS AT BROADER SCALES. THIS STUDY IS INNOVATIVE BECAUSE IT WILL (A) UNIQUELY BRIDGE METHODOLOGIES IN POPULATION GENOMICS, BACTERIAL METAGENOMICS, AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY OF VECTOR-BORNE PATHOGENS; (B) GENERATE GENOMIC DATA THAT WILL BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS OF A. AMERICANUM AND OTHER TICKS; AND (C) ILLUMINATE THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCOUNTING FOR GENOMIC AND MICROBIOME DIVERSITY IN LABORATORY-REARED TICKS USED IN STUDIES OF PATHOGEN TRANSMISSION, HOST IMMUNOLOGY, AND ACARICIDES. THIS STUDY IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT WILL SHED LIGHT ON THE MICROBIAL INTERACTIONS WITHIN INDIVIDUAL TICKS THAT MAY INFLUENCE PATHOGEN DYNAMICS. DISCOVERING BACTERIAL LINEAGES OR ASSEMBLAGES THAT COMPETITIVELY INHIBIT INFECTION BY PATHOGENS WITHIN TICKS WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN CONTROLLING DISEASES VECTORED BY TICKS AND OTHER ARTHROPODS. FURTHERMORE, THIS PROPOSED STUDY WILL ENHANCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RESEARCH AT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY AND WILL PROVIDE CRUCIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CAREERS IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES AND VECTOR BIOLOGY.

A NEW APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING DAILY LIFE MECHANISMS EXPLAINING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL STATUS STRESSORS IN BLOOD PRESSURE DISPARITIES

REU SITE: BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION TO STRESS -- MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, ECOLOGICAL

REU SITE: BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS TO STRESS - MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, ECOLOGICAL

MAMMARY TISSUE HOST-MICROBIOME INTERACTIONS IN BREAST CANCER DEVELOPMENT

REU SITE: BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS TO STRESS - MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, ECOLOGICAL -THIS REU SITE AWARD TO PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, LOCATED IN MALIBU, CA, WILL SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF 8 STUDENTS FOR 10 WEEKS DURING THE SUMMERS OF 2026-2028. PEPPERDINE?S SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN BIOLOGY (SURB) PROGRAM HAS TRAINED YOUNG SCIENTISTS SINCE 1989. IT HAS TRANSFORMED ITS UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION AND PARTICIPATING STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE NATION BY CULTIVATING A THRIVING SCHOLARLY COMMUNITY CENTERED ON UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO PROVIDE UNDERGRADUATES, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS WITH LIMITED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES, WITH A GENUINE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE IN WHICH THEY LEARN THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS WHILE ADVANCING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF HOW LIVING SYSTEMS RESPOND TO STRESS. STUDENTS THRIVE AS MEMBERS OF A VIBRANT RESEARCH COMMUNITY WHERE COLLABORATION ACROSS SUBDISCIPLINES SHARPENS IDEAS AND ENHANCES ORIGINAL DISCOVERY. PARTICIPANTS WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH FACULTY MENTORS TO GAIN PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN FIELD, LABORATORY, OR QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY APPROACHES WHILE ALSO IMPROVING SKILLS IN SCIENTIFIC WRITING AND PRESENTATION. STUDENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO CONDUCT RESEARCH, AND MOST WILL PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THEIR WORK AT SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES. PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO DESIGN OPEN-HOUSE OUTREACH EVENTS TO SHARE THEIR BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH WITH K-12 STUDENTS. THE ULTIMATE AIM IS TO INSPIRE STUDENTS TO PURSUE A LIFE OF SERVICE IN BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH, APPLIED SCIENCE, OR SCIENCE EDUCATION. PROGRAM ASSESSMENT WILL BE DONE USING STUDENT AND FACULTY PRE- AND POST-PROGRAM SURVEYS THROUGH SURVEY MONKEY. STUDENTS SHOULD APPLY TO THE REU SITE USING NSF ETAP (EDUCATION AND TRAINING APPLICATION: HTTPS://ETAP.NSF.GOV). THE TRAINING STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE IS ALIGNED WITH NSF PRIORITIES IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. ALL RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS TO STRESS. STRESS ADAPTATION IS A FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTIC OF ALL BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, AS IT ENABLES ORGANISMS TO SURVIVE IN DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTS. STUDENTS WILL PURSUE PROJECTS STUDYING A WIDE RANGE OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING MICROBIOMES, MAMMALIAN CELLS IN CULTURE, NUCLEAR RNA, CHAPARRAL FERNS, TICKS, MARINE ECOSYSTEMS, AND ECOLOGICAL MODELS. TYPES OF STRESS EXPOSURES EXAMINED WILL INCLUDE DROUGHT, FREEZING, WILDFIRE, INVASIVE SPECIES, DISEASE, POLLUTION, NANOPARTICULATES, AND CELLULAR DYSFUNCTION. STUDENTS WILL BE PIVOTAL IN THE CONCEPTION AND DESIGN OF THEIR PERSONAL PROJECTS, SUPERVISED DIRECTLY BY FACULTY MENTORS IN MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY, EPIGENETICS, ECOLOGY, MARINE BIOLOGY, PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY, AND BIOINFORMATICS. THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE WILL BE ENHANCED BY MEETING VISITING SCIENTISTS, LEARNING ABOUT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, AND ATTENDING TRAINING SEMINARS ON RELEVANT TOPICS SUCH AS ETHICALLY CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND STATISTICAL AND QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES TO BIOLOGICAL DISCOVERY. STUDENTS ALSO WILL EXPLORE TOGETHER THE DIVERSE MOUNTAIN AND OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS SURROUNDING THE UNIVERSITY AND WILL CONCLUDE THE PROGRAM WITH A LIVE-STREAMED SYMPOSIUM, MULTIDISCIPLINARY POSTER SESSION, AND CELEBRATION BANQUET. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES: DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE PRESERVATION ENVIRONMENT FOR HUMANITIES COLLECTIONS

SAVI: FINLAND-USA EAGER: INNOVATIONS IN LEARNING AND EDUCATION

EAGER: PEERING A GENERATION INTO THE FUTURE: NSF'S YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND THE NATION?S STEM WORKFORCE

REU SITE: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN BIOLOGY: CELLULAR STRESS PHYSIOLOGY

A FOLLOW-UP EVALUATION OF HAWAII'S HOPE PROBATION

PRESERVING THE PAST, PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: BUILDING SUSTAINABLEARCHIVALCOLLECTIONS

MRI: ACQUISITION OF A FLOW CYTOMETER INSTRUMENT FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC LITC GRANT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO, 1. A CLINICAL PROGRAM AT AN ACCREDITED LAW, BUSINESS, OR ACCOUNTING SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN CONTROVERSIES ARISING UNDER IRC 7526. 2. AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501C AND EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER SECTION 501A THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF TAXPAYERS OR REFERRAL OF TAXPAYERS TO QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE LITC PROGRAM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AWARDS GRANTS SO THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAX REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR OTHER TRIBUNAL ON FEDERAL TAX MATTERS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON VARIOUS TAX TOPICS AND ADVOCACY ON TAX ISSUES IMPACTING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. END GOAL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE LITC PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO, 1. OPEN NEW AND WORK PREVIOUSLY OPENED REPRESENTATION CASES. 2. CONSULT WITH TAXPAYERS ON THEIR SPECIFIC TAX ISSUE. 3. CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 4. MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS TO IRS ADMINISTRATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, TAXPAYERS WITH INCOMES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND TAXPAYERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH ADVANCED APPROVAL BY THE LITC PROGRAM OFFICE, SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY BROADBAND ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. 5. REASON FOR MODIFICATION IF SHOWING A POSITIVE AMOUNT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THE YEAR THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D., IF SHOWING A NEGATIVE AMOUNT IT IS A DE-OBLIGATION OR A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC LITC GRANT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO, 1. A CLINICAL PROGRAM AT AN ACCREDITED LAW, BUSINESS, OR ACCOUNTING SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN CONTROVERSIES ARISING UNDER IRC 7526. 2. AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501C AND EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER SECTION 501A THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF TAXPAYERS OR REFERRAL OF TAXPAYERS TO QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE LITC PROGRAM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AWARDS GRANTS SO THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAX REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR OTHER TRIBUNAL ON FEDERAL TAX MATTERS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON VARIOUS TAX TOPICS AND ADVOCACY ON TAX ISSUES IMPACTING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. END GOAL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE LITC PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO, 1. OPEN NEW AND WORK PREVIOUSLY OPENED REPRESENTATION CASES. 2. CONSULT WITH TAXPAYERS ON THEIR SPECIFIC TAX ISSUE. 3. CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 4. MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS TO IRS ADMINISTRATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, TAXPAYERS WITH INCOMES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND TAXPAYERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH ADVANCED APPROVAL BY THE LITC PROGRAM OFFICE, SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY BROADBAND ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. 5. REASON FOR MODIFICATION IF SHOWING A POSITIVE AMOUNT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THE YEAR THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D., IF SHOWING A NEGATIVE AMOUNT IT IS A DEOBLIGATION OR A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC LITC GRANT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO, 1. A CLINICAL PROGRAM AT AN ACCREDITED LAW, BUSINESS, OR ACCOUNTING SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN CONTROVERSIES ARISING UNDER IRC 7526. 2. AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501C AND EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER SECTION 501A THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF TAXPAYERS OR REFERRAL OF TAXPAYERS TO QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE LITC PROGRAM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AWARDS GRANTS SO THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAX REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR OTHER TRIBUNAL ON FEDERAL TAX MATTERS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON VARIOUS TAX TOPICS AND ADVOCACY ON TAX ISSUES IMPACTING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. END GOAL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE LITC PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO, 1. OPEN NEW AND WORK PREVIOUSLY OPENED REPRESENTATION CASES. 2. CONSULT WITH TAXPAYERS ON THEIR SPECIFIC TAX ISSUE. 3. CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 4. MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS TO IRS ADMINISTRATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, TAXPAYERS WITH INCOMES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND TAXPAYERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH ADVANCED APPROVAL BY THE LITC PROGRAM OFFICE, SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY BROADBAND ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. 5. REASON FOR MODIFICATION IF SHOWING A POSITIVE AMOUNT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THE YEAR THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D., IF SHOWING A NEGATIVE AMOUNT IT IS A DE-OBLIGATION OR A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC LITC GRANT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO, 1. A CLINICAL PROGRAM AT AN ACCREDITED LAW, BUSINESS, OR ACCOUNTING SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN CONTROVERSIES ARISING UNDER IRC 7526. 2. AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501C AND EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER SECTION 501A THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF TAXPAYERS OR REFERRAL OF TAXPAYERS TO QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE LITC PROGRAM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AWARDS GRANTS SO THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAX REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR OTHER TRIBUNAL ON FEDERAL TAX MATTERS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON VARIOUS TAX TOPICS AND ADVOCACY ON TAX ISSUES IMPACTING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. END GOAL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE LITC PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO, 1. OPEN NEW AND WORK PREVIOUSLY OPENED REPRESENTATION CASES. 2. CONSULT WITH TAXPAYERS ON THEIR SPECIFIC TAX ISSUE. 3. CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 4. MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS TO IRS ADMINISTRATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, TAXPAYERS WITH INCOMES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND TAXPAYERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH ADVANCED APPROVAL BY THE LITC PROGRAM OFFICE, SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY BROADBAND ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. 5. REASON FOR MODIFICATION IF SHOWING A POSITIVE AMOUNT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THE YEAR THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D., IF SHOWING A NEGATIVE AMOUNT IT IS A DEOBLIGATION OR A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC LITC GRANT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO, 1. A CLINICAL PROGRAM AT AN ACCREDITED LAW, BUSINESS, OR ACCOUNTING SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN CONTROVERSIES ARISING UNDER IRC 7526. 2. AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501C AND EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER SECTION 501A THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF TAXPAYERS OR REFERRAL OF TAXPAYERS TO QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE LITC PROGRAM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AWARDS GRANTS SO THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAX REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR OTHER TRIBUNAL ON FEDERAL TAX MATTERS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON VARIOUS TAX TOPICS AND ADVOCACY ON TAX ISSUES IMPACTING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. END GOAL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE LITC PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO, 1. OPEN NEW AND WORK PREVIOUSLY OPENED REPRESENTATION CASES. 2. CONSULT WITH TAXPAYERS ON THEIR SPECIFIC TAX ISSUE. 3. CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 4. MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS TO IRS ADMINISTRATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, TAXPAYERS WITH INCOMES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND TAXPAYERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH ADVANCED APPROVAL BY THE LITC PROGRAM OFFICE, SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY BROADBAND ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. 5. REASON FOR MODIFICATION IF SHOWING A POSITIVE AMOUNT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THE YEAR THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D., IF SHOWING A NEGATIVE AMOUNT IT IS A DEOBLIGATION OR A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D.

SYNTHESIS AND DESIGN WORKSHOP: DISTRIBUTED COLLABORATION IN STEM-RICH PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC LITC GRANT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO, 1. A CLINICAL PROGRAM AT AN ACCREDITED LAW, BUSINESS, OR ACCOUNTING SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN CONTROVERSIES ARISING UNDER IRC 7526. 2. AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501C AND EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER SECTION 501A THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF TAXPAYERS OR REFERRAL OF TAXPAYERS TO QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE LITC PROGRAM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AWARDS GRANTS SO THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAX REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR OTHER TRIBUNAL ON FEDERAL TAX MATTERS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON VARIOUS TAX TOPICS AND ADVOCACY ON TAX ISSUES IMPACTING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. END GOAL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE LITC PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO, 1. OPEN NEW AND WORK PREVIOUSLY OPENED REPRESENTATION CASES. 2. CONSULT WITH TAXPAYERS ON THEIR SPECIFIC TAX ISSUE. 3. CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 4. MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS TO IRS ADMINISTRATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, TAXPAYERS WITH INCOMES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND TAXPAYERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH ADVANCED APPROVAL BY THE LITC PROGRAM OFFICE, SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY BROADBAND ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. 5. REASON FOR MODIFICATION IF SHOWING A POSITIVE AMOUNT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THE YEAR THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D., IF SHOWING A NEGATIVE AMOUNT IT IS A DEOBLIGATION OR A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC LITC GRANT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO, 1. A CLINICAL PROGRAM AT AN ACCREDITED LAW, BUSINESS, OR ACCOUNTING SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN CONTROVERSIES ARISING UNDER IRC 7526. 2. AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501C AND EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER SECTION 501A THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF TAXPAYERS OR REFERRAL OF TAXPAYERS TO QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE LITC PROGRAM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AWARDS GRANTS SO THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAX REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR OTHER TRIBUNAL ON FEDERAL TAX MATTERS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON VARIOUS TAX TOPICS AND ADVOCACY ON TAX ISSUES IMPACTING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. END GOAL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE LITC PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO, 1. OPEN NEW AND WORK PREVIOUSLY OPENED REPRESENTATION CASES. 2. CONSULT WITH TAXPAYERS ON THEIR SPECIFIC TAX ISSUE. 3. CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 4. MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS TO IRS ADMINISTRATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, TAXPAYERS WITH INCOMES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND TAXPAYERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH ADVANCED APPROVAL BY THE LITC PROGRAM OFFICE, SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY BROADBAND ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. 5. REASON FOR MODIFICATION IF SHOWING A POSITIVE AMOUNT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THE YEAR THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D., IF SHOWING A NEGATIVE AMOUNT IT IS A DEOBLIGATION OR A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D.

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

THE PURPOSE OF THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC LITC GRANT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO, 1. A CLINICAL PROGRAM AT AN ACCREDITED LAW, BUSINESS, OR ACCOUNTING SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN CONTROVERSIES ARISING UNDER IRC 7526. 2. AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501C AND EXEMPT FROM TAX UNDER SECTION 501A THROUGH REPRESENTATION OF TAXPAYERS OR REFERRAL OF TAXPAYERS TO QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED UNDER THE LITC PROGRAM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AWARDS GRANTS SO THAT GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE TAX REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OR OTHER TRIBUNAL ON FEDERAL TAX MATTERS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON VARIOUS TAX TOPICS AND ADVOCACY ON TAX ISSUES IMPACTING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. END GOAL AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE LITC PROGRAM AWARDS GRANTS TO, 1. OPEN NEW AND WORK PREVIOUSLY OPENED REPRESENTATION CASES. 2. CONSULT WITH TAXPAYERS ON THEIR SPECIFIC TAX ISSUE. 3. CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 4. MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE IMPROVEMENT TO TAX ADMINISTRATION BY ADVOCATING FOR CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS TO IRS ADMINISTRATION. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES, TAXPAYERS WITH INCOMES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 250 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND TAXPAYERS FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH ADVANCED APPROVAL BY THE LITC PROGRAM OFFICE, SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY BROADBAND ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. 5. REASON FOR MODIFICATION IF SHOWING A POSITIVE AMOUNT IS AN OBLIGATION FOR THE YEAR THAT IS REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D., IF SHOWING A NEGATIVE AMOUNT IT IS A DEOBLIGATION OR A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR THE YEAR REPRESENTED BY THE FIRST TWO DIGITS OF THE PRIME AWARD I.D.

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: TAILORED INSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERED DELIVERY USING PROTOCOLS (TIED- UP)

INNOVATIONS IN LEARNING AND EDUCATION - FINLAND-USA COLLABORATIVE WORKSHOP

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON QUANTITATIVE ETHNOGRAPHY

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES SUSTAINABLE PRESERVATION ENVIRONMENT PROJECT

UNDERGRADUATE WORKSHOP IN SUPERSYMMETRY

BIBLE IN THE AMERICAN FOUNDING [WE PROPOSE A FIVE-PART SPEAKER SERIES THROUGHOUT THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR, HIGHLIGHTING THE CENTRAL IMPORTANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND THE BIBLE TO THE AMERICAN FOUNDING. LED BY OUR GAYLORD PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY, DR. ABBYLIN SELLERS, THIS MULTI-PART PROJECT IS PERFECTLY TIMED TO HELP CELEBRATE AMERICA?S 250TH BIRTHDAY. EACH OF THE LECTURES WILL BE PUBLIC, ENGAGING STUDENTS, FACULTY, ALUMNI, AND THE BROADER PUBLIC TO LEARN ANEW ABOUT THIS EXCEPTIONAL ASPECT OF THE AMERICAN PROJECT: THE ABILITY TO COMBINE FAITH AND FREEDOM.]

TABLEAUX STATISTICS FOR FIBONACCI TABLEAUX

NEH ENDURING QUESTIONS COURSE ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ART

RIVERS, TRAILS AND CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE

SYMPOSIUM: ENVIRONMENTALLY CUED HATCHING ACROSS TAXA: EMBRYOS CHOOSE A BIRTHDAY

PACIFIC COAST UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS CONFERENCE 2011

PACIFIC COAST UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS CONFERENCE 2013

SINCE 1972, PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY HAS SUCCESSFULLY SPONSORED THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM (FGP). FGP IS AN INNOVATIVE, MULTIGENERATIONAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT PAIRS ELDERLY CITIZENS WITH AT-RISK YOUTH FROM IMPOVERISHED, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES (LA) AREA. THROUGH A SYMBIOTIC MODEL, FGP SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDES COMPANIONSHIP FOR ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS AND MENTORSHIP TO YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. FGP PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT, WORKING TO PROMOTE SCHOOL READINESS AND SUCCESS IN YOUTH (K-12). FGP PURPOSEFULLY TARGETS POPULATIONS IN HIGHLY IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS OF SOUTH CENTRAL LA. MORE THAN 38% OF LA COUNTY RESIDENTS LIVE IN ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, WHILE 18% LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE ($28,290 ANNUALLY FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR). COMPARATIVELY, WITHIN FGP'S PRIMARY SERVICE AREA, A STARTLING 52% OF FAMILIES LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. UNDER CONDITIONS OF SIGNIFICANT POVERTY, CHILDREN EXPERIENCE ENHANCED RISK OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CRITICAL AREAS OF LANGUAGE, LITERACY, AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION. THROUGH ITS INNOVATIVE STRUCTURE, FGP WORKS TO MITIGATE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES AND RISKS FOR VULNERABLE YOUTH BY PROVIDING A SOURCE OF MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT FROM ITS FOSTER GRANDPARENTS. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ITS IMPORTANT WORK THROUGH THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM, PEPPERDINE IS REQUESTING SUPPORT FROM THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO INCREASE ITS CAPACITY AND, CONSEQUENTLY, ITS IMPACT. PEPPERDINE IS WELL EQUIPPED TO TAKE ON 64 VOLUNTEERS, GIVEN ITS CURRENT STATUS AS THE HOST INSTITUTION FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE DISPLACED FOLLOWING THE CLOSING OF A JUMPSTART PROGRAM. ACCORDINGLY, PEPPERDINE HAS ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS WITH SEVEN OF NEW VOLUNTEER STATIONS, AND IS WELL PREPARED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 8 VOLUNTEERS TO THE CURRENT 58 WHO HAVE JOINED OUR ROBUST TEAM OF 104 VOLUNTEERS. QUICK SUCCESS IN PLACEMENT AND TRANSITION HAS BOLSTERED THE IMPACT OF THE FGP AT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, AND CONTINUES TO MAKE UNPRECEDENTED STRIDES IN STUDENT OUTCOMES. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH, PEPPERDINE'S FGP WILL FURTHER INCREASE ITS IMPACT IN THE LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY BY PERMANENTLY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 64 VOLUNTEERS TO ITS EXISTING 104 SENIOR CITIZENS (FGP VOLUNTEERS) WHO ARE PAIRED WITH YOUTH FROM THE FOLLOWING TARGETED GROUPS: 1) HEAD START PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AGES 3-5; 2) SPECIALIZED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED AND/OR DISABLED YOUTH; 3) K-12 STUDENTS NEEDING ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND LITERACY; AND 4) VULNERABLE YOUTH NEEDING ADULT SUPPORT WHILE PARENTS ARE BEING TREATED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS WILL FACILITATE A WIDE ARRAY OF EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES WITH THEIR YOUTH PARTNERS INCLUDING: ASSISTING IN HEAD START AND K-12 CLASSROOMS, READING, TUTORING, MENTORING, SOCIALIZING (PLAYING EDUCATIONAL GAMES, READING, TALKING, WALKING, LISTENING, AND SHARING MEALS), AND SUPPORTING YOUTH WHOSE PARENTS ARE RECEIVING REHABILITATIVE TREATMENT. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT AND ADDITION OF 64 VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE INCREASED SCHOOL READINESS, ENHANCED LANGUAGE AND LITERACY SKILLS, IMPROVED CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION, HEIGHTENED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT, AND GREATER SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SKILLS FOR PARTICIPATING YOUTH.

LOW INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC