Students in the spring School of Public and Population Health undergraduate capstone class aimed to design a capstone project that synthesizes healthcare or public health concepts and improves the community around them. The students spent eight weeks working on their projects and implementing positive health-related programming.
Learn about four of the student capstone experiences below.
Hailey Anderson, Health Studies Graduate
Hailey Anderson, now a Health Studies graduate, created the free Movement is Medicine community event to bring people together through movement, education, and connection. At the heart of the project, Anderson said, is the belief that movement is for everyone: “It’s not about perfection or what movement looks like — it’s about showing up for yourself and moving in a way that supports you.”
Learn more about Hailey, her project and her experience in this class:
Q: What encouraged you to work on this project?
A: Movement has become such an important part of who I am and has played a significant role in both my physical and mental health. There have been times in my life when movement felt difficult, but it has continued to be something that keeps me strong and reminds me of the importance of showing up for myself. I wanted to combine that personal connection with my education and research to share why movement can be so powerful. My hope is to encourage people to find movement that works for them, something that supports them, brings them joy and reminds them that movement can positively impact so much more than just the body.
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from this project?
A: My biggest takeaway has been seeing the power of community firsthand. Nearly 40 local vendors trusted me, believed in my vision, and supported an event that started as an idea for my senior capstone project. Watching so many people come together around a shared passion for health and wellness was incredibly rewarding. It reminded me how much good exists within our community and how many people genuinely care about supporting one another. Seeing an idea I cared so deeply about turn into something meaningful for others is something I will carry with me long after this project.
Q: What was your favorite part of this capstone class?
A: My favorite part of this capstone class was the people I got to share the experience with. Professor Jaime Sand was incredibly encouraging and always made me feel like my big ideas were possible, while also helping me stay grounded and work through the realities of bringing them to life. I also loved getting to know my classmates and hearing about the things they were passionate about. It was really special to be surrounded by people creating projects that reflected what mattered to them, and to be able to support and learn from one another throughout the process.
Kailey Mendiola, Health Studies Graduate
Kailey Mendiola, now a Health Studies graduate, developed a project she called “Beauty in Connection.” Mendiola aimed to tackle the feeling of loneliness and isolation many nursing home residents experience by creating activities catered toward beauty and togetherness. Mendiola received many beauty product donations and organized three day-long activities geared toward skincare, nail care and makeup application for the residents of Cascadia Boise, a local nursing facility and rehabilitation center.
“I started this class so incredibly lost on what to do and I ended up with a great social network of amazing individuals who were all willing to help me make a difference,” Mendiola said.
Learn more about Mendiola’s experience and the impact she made:
Q: What encouraged you to work on this project?
A: I specifically wanted to work on this specific project because I wanted to have a community-based project that addressed a certain public health concern — isolation and loneliness in nursing homes. Through my research, I actually learned that activities that are catered towards the resident’s actual interests have a more positive impact on their sense of well-being. This is why I created these activities with the help of the feedback of the actual residents in the home.
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from working on this project?
A: My biggest takeaway from working on this project was that it does not take a lot to make a difference. Through a little collaboration and creativity, I was able to create a unique set of activities for the ladies in the facility. I also managed to take products that were most likely going to end up in the landfill, and put them into the hands of a population who had no other way of accessing them. The entire project was a lot of hard work, but it was by no means incredibly challenging. I adapted it and molded it in a way that fit with the resources I had on hand and was still able to create a very meaningful project. The project truly seemed like it made a difference in their socio-psychological health and I was honored to be a factor.
Brooke Ogaard, Health Studies Graduate
Brooke Ogaard, now a Health Studies graduate, helped the Genesis Community Health team update and improve their Rapid Resources Guide for patients. The final product, Ogaard said, is an organized resource guide for individuals and families in Ada and Canyon Counties, available in both English and Spanish. The guide includes information about healthcare, food, housing, and financial resources in an easy-to-navigate format.
Learn more about Ogaard and her project:
Q: What encouraged you to work on this specific project?
A: I had previously volunteered at Genesis Community Health, a nonprofit clinic serving individuals without insurance or Medicaid. While working at the front desk, I began to wonder what happens to those who don’t qualify for services and where they can find help. This led me to recognize how difficult it can be for individuals living below the poverty line to navigate complex health and social systems. I was encouraged to work on this specific project through my interactions with others at the clinic.
Q: What was your favorite part of this capstone class?
A: My favorite part of the capstone class was being encouraged to go out and do something meaningful. It gave me the push I needed to work with someone in my community, and I am so glad I did. I was able to create something that I believe will be useful and help individuals access important resources. This experience gave me the confidence I need to apply myself in the real world, and I am excited to continue helping people within my community.
Audrey Wilson, Health Data Analytics Graduate
Audrey Wilson, now a Health Data Analytics graduate, developed a capstone project titled “CATCH My Breath: Understanding Youth Vaping in Idaho Schools Through the Lens of Social Cognitive Theory.” Wilson conducted a literature review and a statewide data analysis to evaluate CATCH My Breath, a youth vaping cessation program in Idaho. Wilson assessed the program through the lens of Social Cognitive Theory, which offers insight into why people make certain decisions. Ultimately, her analysis found that the program effectively helps participating youth reduce their likelihood of vaping.
Learn more about Wilson and her project:
Q: What encouraged you to work on this project?
A: My initial inspiration was to apply my data analytics skills to a comprehensive project that improves health outcomes in my community. Given my background in health education and my experience working with youth in the Boise community, this project felt like a natural way to combine both of those passions.
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from working on this project?
A: A key takeaway from this work is that effective youth vaping cessation efforts depend on close collaboration between health education teams and health data analysts. However in practice, this collaboration is often fragmented rather than streamlined. Health data analysts identify trends, risk factors and at-risk populations, while health educators translate those insights into programming and messaging that communities can actually use. Being able to collaborate efficiently is crucial to impactful programming.
Q: What was your favorite part of this capstone class?
A: My favorite part of this capstone class was the collaboration between myself, my peers and our professor. Being able to share ideas and gain insight from other students in the School of Public and Population Health shaped my project, and the guidance from my professor, Jaime Sand, was encouraging throughout the process of completing a project of this scale.