Visionary Student Panel

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Visionary Student Panel

The Visionary Student Panel (VSP) is a mini-grant program that supports independent student projects for Macon undergraduates. VSP applicants are challenged to answer the question, “If you could wave a magic wand and fix one problem in your community, what would it be?”

Through the VSP program, students receive one-on-one coaching, complete a public pitch, and have the opportunity to receive mini-grant funding that will turn their ideas into a realistic and actionable project.

Applications are currently open for the 2024 Visionary Student Panel. Learn more about the program below and click here to access the application.

With the support of one-on-one coaching, students develop a five-minute presentation about a real-world problem and their proposed project that addresses the problem at a local or regional level. Students deliver their presentations in a public forum and receive constructive feedback from a panel of expert judges and audience members. The 2024 VSP showcase will be held on Tuesday, March 19 at 6 pm.

Students use the feedback from the judges and audience to write an application for a mini-grant to fund their project in the upcoming academic year. Students continue to receive support and mentorship from the Center for Engaged Learning as they develop their grant proposals. A committee of faculty and staff will review and score each grant proposal. With a funding range of $100-$1000, grant applicants are encouraged to consider the long-term sustainability of their projects. Funded projects must be implemented during the 2024-25 academic year.

Students should apply to participate in the 2024 Visionary Student Panel by Sunday, January 21 at 11:59 pm. Click here to apply!

Any type of project, from the creative and performing arts to engineering, is enthusiastically encouraged as long as it relates directly to a real-world problem. To see examples of past projects, review the list below.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Presenter slots are limited, so be sure to submit an application early.

Student presenters will receive one-on-one coaching as they craft their five-minute pitches. At the event, students will address the following questions in their pitches:

What is the issue?
Why is this issue important to you?
Why should the rest of us care about this issue?
Is anything being done to address this problem?
What do you plan to do?

No awards will be given out at the event. Instead, students will receive both judge and audience feedback to help further develop their ideas. Participants who want to pursue funding from the Center for Engaged Learning will receive additional support via a grant workshop.

Establishing a college student voter engagement competition (SoCon Votes)
Producing a documentary about sexual assault
Hosting a Hispanic Health Fair for Middle Georgia
Hosting deliberative dialogue discussions for Mercer students
Mapping recycling bins on campus to increase awareness about recycling
Creating and delivering a curriculum for high school students to introduce them to current events and pop culture in the Middle East
Challenging the stigma around depression and anxiety with a fun run/skateboard/bike
Developing a student-led, peer mentorship program to support students with disabilities in their first year at Mercer (ABLE Mercer)
Establishing an on-campus food pantry
Produce a student-led podcast to support student success on campus (Real Talk Podcast)
Develop multimedia content to expand virtual LGBTQ sensitivity training (Rainbow Connections)
Promoting life skill development for Mercer students with adulting classes
Creating low-cost, custom orthotics for people with flat feet
Establishing structured, on-site programs/resources to promote relationship development between incarcerated parents and their children