LevelUP Program Accelerator Funding Competition 2026 Award Winners Announced
Posted on September 4, 2026 by Michelle Hale
LevelUP Program Accelerator Funding Competition 2026 Award Winners Announced
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 LevelUP Program Accelerator Awards, an initiative supporting South鈥檚 Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), LevelUP: Uniquely Prepared for What Comes Next.
The LevelUP Program Accelerator competition provides funding for innovative projects that help students connect their academic experiences to career readiness, reflection, and life after graduation. This year鈥檚 selected proposals demonstrate creative approaches to enhancing student learning and engagement aligned with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies.
鈥淲e are thrilled to support these outstanding projects that creatively advance the mission of LevelUP,鈥� said Dr. Julie Estis, Associate Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness. 鈥淓ach initiative demonstrates the power of reflective learning and the importance of helping students articulate how their experiences prepare them for what comes next.鈥�
The 2026 award recipients are:
| Category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Elevating Career Readiness in Graduate Nursing Informatics Students Through Open Source EHR Integration | Nursing (Brady Urquhart) |
| AI-Integrated Professional Judgment: A Readiness Initiative for Speech Pathology and Audiology Students | Speech Pathology & Audiology (Tara Davis) |
| Ethical AI Integration in English Composition 101 and 102 | English Composition (Patrick Shaw) |
| Bringing Unmanned Aircraft Systems to the University of South Alabama | Geography (Carol Sawyer) |
| Sustainable Careers: Accelerating Students鈥� Paths to Sustainability-Focused Careers through Professional Credentials | Marine Science (Sean Powers) |
| Reflective Readiness: Using Longitudinal Video Reflection and ePortfolio Development to Enhance Teacher Candidate Career Readiness | Education (Susan Ferguson) |
| Leveling Up Math+Stat: Embedding Career Readiness Competencies Through the Lens of Applied Mathematics | Math/Stats (Gayan Abeynanda) |
| Career Ready, World Ready | Career Development (Adam Barnes) |
| Uniquely Prepared for Public Service: A Public Policy Minor and Experiential Learning Initiative at South Alabama | CJ/PSC (Nathan Micatka) |
The LevelUP QEP focuses on preparing students for their next steps by integrating reflection, values affirmation, and ePortfolios into coursework and co-curricular experiences. Through the Program Accelerator initiative, faculty and staff are empowered to develop and scale innovative strategies that enhance student success and strengthen the university鈥檚 culture of continuous improvement.