Student synthesize and apply skills and content from across the leadership curriculum and their primary academic discipline to research, design, critique alternatives, propose a solution, and effect change in a leadership challenge or community problem needing leadership. Students identify a personally meaningful real world problem and lead positive change to address that problem. Completing the Capstone project should build a foundation for continued pursuit of their personal leadership vision. (See exemplar project here).
Projects can include:
- participation on an interdisciplinary team lead by faculty, staff or fellow student leaders (concrete individual deliverables required);
- individual research into a real-world problem of importance to the student (fulfillment of purpose) and planning for leading change after graduation;
- self-directed and generated project with concrete deliverables achieved or reasonably attempted; or
- a hybrid of the above.
Browse through past projects below (click the project to open a larger view in a new window).
Other Honorable Projects
Abdullah Salim ‘22 – Capstone brought STEM students into the leadership conversation by offering them leadership training and content that was applicable to them and their fields of interest through research. Specifically, this capstone focused on a research-based applied leadership curriculum that consists of content presentations that aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of research as a leadership studies practicum.
Taylor Mattioli ‘22 – Capstone conducted research to determine the effectiveness of ”green engineering” techniques (stream meandering, native limestone armoring, selective boulder placement, and native vegetation) to reduce erosion along Second Creek’s banks.
Grant Kobes ‘22 – Capstone provided a method to fill the gap in qualified STEM workers in the United States by directly recruiting top middle and high school students to the University of Tennessee where they will have the opportunity to practice the skills and concepts, they learn in their coursework through the hands-on learning environment of competitive robotics.
Chase Bristow ‘22 – Capstone project involved his experiences while working as an intern and part-time employee at the Tennessee Orthopedic Clinic. The Capstone project was conducted to better inform undergraduate students with options and avenues to gain valuable clinical experience before beginning the process of applying to medical schools.
Shahd Abbas ’21 – The project is an animated musical that addresses mental health struggles with college students, which would spread awareness about the situations. Due to the pandemic, it has turned into an animation and an album for audience to access from their homes. It allows the artists involved to focus on sound quality.
Aauna Brown ’21 – Capstone focused to increase academic performance and mental health in those students who had been victimized, as well as increase assertion and empowerment in women on campus To reduce completed sexual assaults and increase reporting rates in the instance of completed attempts.
Christopher J. Busic ’21 – Design project proposed an effective way to mitigate critical flight characteristics such as characteristic energy (C3), velocity (Δv) and transit time could be achieved by implementing a Delta-V Earth Gravity Assist (Delta-VEGA). As such, fifteen potential single and multi-target TNO missions were created using this technique with Spaceflight Solution’s Mission Analysis Environment (MANE) tool.
Jenn Davis ’18 – Recognized as “Project of the Year”
- By encompassing the values of health, education, family, and equality at the center of her vision, Jenn sought to develop a nutrition program at The National Sports Training Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to educate Vietnamese athletes about the immediate and lifelong benefits that accompany proper nutrition within athletics, and to inspire Vietnamese athletes to use their platform in sport to engage the community in physical activity and healthy dietary lifestyles.
Seth Zanoni ’18 – Recognized as “Project of the Year”
- Established the organizational structure and processes for the Leadership Studies Academic Board, the student organization that supports the minor, including the selection process, training retreat, and manual.
Keira Toney ’17 – Recognized as “Project of the Year”
- The Parker Family Undergraduate Research Project; Kiera organized an undergraduate research team to examine data collected on an Ohio school that taught in co-ed and interracial classrooms from 1830s-1890s. she also prepared materials for an Underground Railroad Museum exhibit.
Meghan Byrge ’17
- Founded a non-profit community theatre where high school students work in lieu of detention
Emily Morrow ’17
- Marketed and increased public awareness of her personal blog, The Wholesome Rabbit, while working alongside members of the Health Factory to launch a new branch of their company, a customized meal planning website.
- Created a wellness curriculum and twelve lesson plans for student athletes to teach Knoxville elementary school children.
