Three undergraduate psychology students, Jessika Bumgarner, Isabel Van Sickle, and Toni Hutchens, have leadership positions in the H2O Global Initiative (HGI), a project developed by Dr. Brian Higley that focuses on applying learning science to improve success and well-being across educational and community settings.
A major component of the initiative is the children’s book Super STEAM Team: A Hero‑Directed Tour Through the Principles of Productivity, which teaches young learners five evidence‑based factors—social support, time perception, enjoyment, accessibility, and motivation—that influence goal success. The book also introduces “frenzy fog,” a metaphor for the overwhelm children often feel when managing tasks. These ideas stem from the scholarly article H2O‑Centered Education: Helping Education Excellence Flow More Freely. Sasha Monaco, first author of the children’s book, stated, “Our mission is to make it easy and fun for children to take ownership of their goals and celebrate every step of the way. The psychology behind living a happy life is well-documented. We just make it accessible by demystifying the core message behind the correlates and reminding adults and children that they have agency over their own happiness.”
Through the HGI, high school teachers collaborate with student leadership teams to mentor elementary and middle school students, known as "STEAM Superstars." These mentors, or "STEAM Sidekicks," guide younger learners through activities that promote self‑help skills, teamwork, and the H2O value of “Helping Oneself and Others.” Although the main focus is on helping kids, the project also aims to strengthen intergenerational cooperation and community‑wide support.
Student Contributions
- Jessika Bumgarner leads the H2O Global Initiative, overseeing multiple teams of students across the country from elementary through college levels. She also serves as an instructional assistant for Dr. Higley, working with Isabel and Toni to support students through a multidirectional and multigenerational loop of support. Jessika emphasizes the importance of social support and listening when working with students of all ages. “I strongly value social support—the S in STEAM—in every avenue of life, and working with students of varying ages has shown me that the STEAM Superhero ‘Social Butterfly’ really is a huge key to success!”
- Isabel Van Sickle supports the initiative through her IA role and her internship with a school social worker. She notes that the book’s “frenzy fog” concept (a state of being overwhelmed by too many distractions) resonates strongly with both high school mentors and elementary students. Isabel has also participated in efforts to provide healthier food options on the App State Hickory campus and has contributed to building strong support networks within the HGI. “As a psychology undergrad student with goals of becoming an LCSW and going into counseling, I naturally gravitated toward work rooted in evidence-based practice, since that is the foundation of effective care. This experience has reinforced how important enjoyment, the E in STEAM, really is because it helps you take care of yourself and others while staying motivated toward your goals. Enjoyment is a crucial element of sustaining success and well-being across the lifespan, which is why it’s important to incorporate fun in our daily lives.”
- Toni Hutchens works alongside Isabel as an IA for Dr. Higley, where they share STEAM and H2O principles with students. On the Hickory campus, Toni and Isabel have also gathered resources from the APA website for graduate school applications to help peers feel more confident in their abilities to navigate the application process. Additionally, Toni is planning to create n book club to introduce local adolescents to H2O concepts.
Together, these three students have helped expand the reach of the H2O Global Initiative (HGI) and have contributed to meaningful changes on campus and in their communities. Their work highlights how the HGI applies learning science in practical ways, from mentoring students to supporting initiatives on campus and in the community.
