˿Ƶ Tech student Kathy Ruffino used her online leadership course to make a difference in her community. In BUS 441 Leadership I, she worked on a project to improve the Age Well Path at the Klamath Basin Senior Center. Her work helped make the outdoor space safer and more accessible for seniors and community members.
Ruffino’s project went beyond regular coursework. Dr. Sonja Bickford, Associate Professor of Management at ˿Ƶ Tech, shared, “Kathy embraced the project requirement by choosing an applied project to explore leadership and change management and took it to the next level.”
As part of her project, Ruffino:
- Engaged with businesses like Dutch Bros, Starbucks, Natural Grocers, Fred Meyer, and Fisher Nicholson Realty to build partnerships.
- Promoted her initiative at the Klamath Chamber of Commerce's “Coffee at 8-ish” event, connecting directly with local leaders and stakeholders.
- Created a legacy plan by compiling contact lists and transition notes to ensure continuity of her project beyond the course.
“Kathy’s success exemplifies the value of applied learning in a class like leadership,” Bickford said. “She took the assignment and used it as an opportunity to have a positive and lasting impact.”
Ruffino said, “You get what you put into projects.” She believes that the effort she put into her leadership project shows how lessons from class can be used in students’ communities and lives.
By applying leadership skills, Ruffino's work improved community resources and set a benchmark for how ˿Ƶ Tech students can bridge the classroom of online learning with real-world applications.
