Undergraduate Research and Extension Experience: CASEY 4-H Scholar Program

The CASEY 4-H Scholars Program will target 50 first and second-year college students enrolled in nutrition, education, and health-related majors at the University of Kentucky, Berea College, University of Louisville, and Murray State University. The CASEY 4-H program that offers experiential learning, fundamental health knowledge, research translation, and communication skills, and layered mentoring to prepare them for careers in health education and disease prevention. The CASEY 4-H Program has two student-centered objectives: 1) Provide 50 undergraduates with experiential learning opportunities in research and Extension through training focused on health education and disease prevention for future careers in health and Extension. 2) Engage undergraduate students in experiential learning activities to improve their skills in research, critical thinking, communication, writing, presenting, mentoring, teaching youth, and developing plans for their career aspirations. Student activities include: meeting with a mentor to write a literature review and translate health-related scientific findings into actionable activities for youth; attending a career panel; participating in a group workshop to develop a health lesson for youth; attending training on health education for youth, and delivering health education to youth. By providing undergraduates with early exposure to health education for youth using an experiential learning approach, we aim to accomplish the goals and objectives of this program and promote less conventional career pathways, such as 4-H and Cooperative Extension. This innovative partnership (clinical, 4-H, and Extension), supports the land-grant engagement initiatives and provides an environment for students to envision and lead the future of food and agricultural sciences careers.