CAPS Teacher Receives Grant from Western Governors University

Julia Boge, a medicine and healthcare teacher at the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) in Blue Valley USD 229 in Overland Park, has received a $1,400 grant through Western Governors University’s (WGU) “Fund My Classroom” initiative. The grant will be used to purchase a 3-Dmed Enjoystitch™ Premium Laparoscopic Trainer for her Exploring Health Professions (EHP) classroom. Boge learned she was selected for the grant in May.

The Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program aligns 11th and 12th grade students to high-growth, high-demand careers. Exploring Health Professions (EHP) is designed for all students considering a career in healthcare – where they spend three class periods in the course for one semester – and serves as a gateway course to other healthcare strand courses. Since the pandemic has drastically reduced professional observation and site visit opportunities for Boge’s EHP students, she has redesigned the class structure as a result, leaning heavily on in-building skill exposure and development. Per the recommendation of several post-secondary education partners, Boge elected to add training in laparoscopy skill to the EHP curriculum and researched a variety of viable laparoscopic trainer options. The grant money received from WGU will allow Boge to obtain a 3-Dmed Enjoystitch™ Premium Laparoscopic Trainer, which includes everything necessary to expose her students to this valuable surgical skill.

The innovative classroom project is one of more than 80 across Kansas, Missouri and Illinois chosen by WGU to receive funding. The nonprofit, fully online university issued a call in March for K-12 teachers across the state to nominate proposed classroom projects by April 17 for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding through its “Fund My Classroom” initiative. Most grants were awarded during Teacher Appreciation Week, which ran from May 2-6.

“We received nominations for some amazing classroom projects, and we are happy to bring so many to life through this year’s ‘Fund My Classroom’ initiative,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “When it comes to expanding classroom curriculum and employing innovative techniques to engage and challenge students, teachers are often limited by costs. This initiative is an opportunity for WGU to give back to teachers, who go above and beyond to educate our students, by providing them with funding they can use to further enhance learning both in and out of the classroom.”

To learn more about the “Fund My Classroom” initiative and the work WGU is doing to help teachers advance their careers, visit www.wgu.edu.

About WGU

Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 131,000 students nationwide and has more than 277,000 graduates. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 25 years, the university has become a leading influence in the development of innovative workforce-focused approaches to education. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at wgu.edu.