6 IDEA Grant Winners! The Department of Art had the largest number of recipients in 2023.
College of Fine Arts Scores Big with the FSU IDEA Grants! This year produced an unprecedented number of student winners from the College of Fine Arts. Of this years’ group of winners, the Department of Art had the largest share of winners in the university. Winners include Anna Speer (BFA Class of ’25), Andy Mills (BFA Class of ’24), Sarah Evan (BFA Class of ’24), Luke Meunier (BA class of ’24), William Pekins (BFA class of ’24), and Bronson Leiro (BFA class of ’24). This group represents approximately 25% of the winners.
The FSU Center For Undergraduate Research And Academic Engagement (CRE) directs the IDEA Grants program, which provides funding for research, creative projects, and the development or evaluation of new or existing ideas, and the Honors, Scholars and Fellows House (HSF) provides a collaborative environment to support this program and others. The Council on Undergraduate Research defines undergraduate research as “A mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge”. As Latika Young, Director of the CRE, explains “Engaging students in research, innovation, and scholarship is the hallmark of a great research university. Through their participation in research and creative endeavors, undergraduate students become better thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers, cultivating a depth of understanding needed to make a positive difference in the world.”
FSU undergraduate students in all majors can apply for an FSU IDEA Grant to fund their self-designed work on a topic, project, problem, artistic product or performance, or other entrepreneurial or creative idea. Selected applicants receive a stipend to fund these summer research projects, which must last 8-12 weeks and be under the mentorship of a supervising faculty member. For the arts, this is a great opportunity to fund creative activity. “Our office has been providing research grants to undergraduate students for at least the past 15 years”, according to Professor Carrie Ann Baade who has served since 2009 as a recruiter and reviewer for this process and finds it to be among the best opportunities at FSU. “It helps our students get their first grant writing experience and helps them to fund their creative work.”The research of our six winners will be showcased this fall at the annual President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence. This event will be held on October 3rd from 5pm to 8pm at the Union Ball Room at the FSU Student Union. All projects by award winners will be featured.
The Honors, Scholars, and Fellows House hosts a blog to share the experiences of undergraduates participating in the wide variety of programs housed in the HSF House. Project blogs from this years’ winners are linked here: https://hsfhouseblogs.fsu.edu/blog/idea-grants/