<< Back
Grants will fund 13 Hawk Tank projects from students, staff, and faculty.
By Megan Smith ’07, associate director of content
“Congratulations, you just got out of prison. Unfortunately for you, your parole officer requires you to have an address and you don’t have a place to stay tonight. What do you do?”
Tina Riedy, instructional designer for Miami Regionals E-Campus, was the first presenter to pitch their project idea at the annual MIAMI Women Hawk Tank event. In their presentation, Riedy asked event attendees what they would do in specific scenarios if they were burdened by a prison record and limited resources. The idea was to convey the importance of understanding real-world challenges that newly-released prisoners face when re-entering society. And the crowd work paid off.
Riedy and other Miami students, staff, and faculty members were awarded grants from the MIAMI Women Giving Circle on April 28 during the MIAMI Women Leadership Symposium at the Armstrong Student Center. From an art exhibition to a youth writing camp, each of the 13 grant-funded projects are projected to make an impact on the Miami community.
Here are the 2023 Hawk Tank recipients:
A Golden Time: Ohio Women Artists at the Turn of the Century
Presented by Jason Shaiman
The Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum (RCCAM) will present a fall 2023 exhibition focused on late 19th- and early 20th-century Ohio women artists who achieved national and international success through painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, and woodworking, paving the way for future generations of women artists.
Agricultural Robotics Lab
Presented by Bradley Gartner
Miami’s engineering students will gain hands-on experience in robotics while enhancing their skills in research at an undergraduate level. This lab will focus on using robotics to benefit the agricultural industry and food production.
Jason Shaiman, Hawk Tank presenter.
Bringing Miami University’s Formula SAE program into the Electric World
Presented by Morgan Frederick
Miami’s Formula SAE team will convert an old Formula SAE car into an electric formula car to give engineering majors hands-on learning opportunities and the chance to compete with cars around the world.
Camp Kesem Magic
Presented by Katie Dunn
Camp Kesem supports children through and beyond their parents’ cancer. Grant funding will be used to put on a summer camp at no cost to the families, a way for a child to be a kid for a week.
The Democracy Bus
Presented by Mollie Duffy
RedHawks Count, a women-run organization, will support a Democracy Bus initiative that will take students to the DMV to get state IDs in order to vote in Ohio. The Democracy Bus could also be used during election season to bus students to the Board of Elections for early voting.
Keeping the Door Open: ODCC Phase II
Presented by Greta Heinzelman
The Open Door Clothes Closet is a free resource of clothing and accessories for transgender and gender diverse students. Grant funding will expand the inventory to include items imperative to ensuring student comfort, success, and confidence on campus.
Katie Dunn, Hawk Tank presenter.
Miami University Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) English Learner Summer Camp
Presented by Lauren Doll
Miami students will receive support to offset the cost of airfare and meals to attend the MUDEC English Learner (EL) summer camp. A collaboration between Miami, MUDEC, and the International School of Differdange and Esch (ISDE), the non-credit study abroad workshop will consist of two one-week camps for ISDE students learning English.
Miami University Mentoring Program for Women and Minorities in STEM
Presented by Catherine Almquist
A formal mentoring program will be established for women and minority faculty and graduate students in STEM at Miami to support efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Nursing Peer Tutoring Program
Presented by Kaneesha Ogle
Grant funding will be used to create a peer tutoring program to promote nursing student success and retention for those who need a helping hand.
Reentry Challenge – A simulation of reentry into society after time in prison
Presented by Tina Riedy
This virtual simulation will challenge students to “walk a mile in the shoes” of ex-offenders, revealing real-world pitfalls in the system.
Social Justice Internship Program
Presented by Mark Curnutte
Students in the internship program will live in affordable housing in Over-the-Rhine and work for three weeks at one of almost 20 agency partners, ranging from the Freestore Foodbank to any of three nonprofit law firms. They will receive hands-on experience and get to know people personally who are unfairly disadvantaged by society.
Marguerite Smith, Hawk Tank presenter.
WE23 Conference - Los Angeles
Presented by Marguerite Smith
Students from Miami’s College of Engineering and Computing will have the opportunity to attend WE23, the world’s largest conference for women in engineering and technology held in Los Angeles in October of 2023.
Youth Voices, Youth Writing: OWP Youth Writing Camp
Presented by Beth Rimer
Grant funding will help provide a camp experience on Miami’s campus, creating a week of inspired writing for young adults to hone their craft and write their story.
MIAMI Women empowers women – alumni, faculty, staff, and students – to make connections and to support opportunities that mentor, advance, and invest in the future of Miami University.
For more information on the Giving Circle, please visit
MiamiAlum.org/GivingCircle.