Since the ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship received two grants in January from the Kauffman Foundation, staff members have been developing plans to modify its internship and entrepreneurship programs.

Judi Eyles, program coordinator for the Pappajohn Center, said a $10,000 grant was a continuation of funding from the Kansas City-based Kauffman Foundation. The center has received money from the foundation in the past, and it directly funds student interns, she said.

This year, however, instead of just the $10,000, Iowa State submitted a proposal for another grant to the foundation.

There were 313 schools across the United States that submitted proposals and 52 grants were awarded, Eyles said.

According to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Web site, www.emkf.org, the foundation has invested $2.3 million in the 52 colleges and universities with this year’s grants.

The plan for the second grant, totaling $40,000, is to “expand the internship program and experience-based learning programs at the center,” Eyles said.

With the grants, the center will continue its internship program and consolidate learning experiences.

It will also create more jobs for students, Eyles said.

“This program was started in 1997 based on Kauffman funding,” she said. “From then until now, the center has helped about 100 students get internships.”

Andy Ruff, senior in management information systems, was the recipient of the Kauffman Scholar award last spring, which paid for an internship with a local firm.

“In addition to working with the company, you attend seminars in entrepreneurship,” he said.

Ruff said he had done previous internships at large companies but while working with a smaller firm he saw how much more fluent and dynamic business can be.

In addition to the internship program at the Pappajohn Center, all students can apply to work directly with a start-up company, Eyles said.

There are also three learning laboratories at the center where students can increase their business and entrepreneur experience: Business Analysis Lab, Software Development Lab and New Venture Lab.

The goal of the grant is to take those experiences and consolidate programs so students have access to a number of different opportunities, Eyles said.

She said they want to give students practical work experience. Another goal of the grant is to “incorporate faculty into the learning process.”

Eyles said students in any major can get entrepreneurship education and experience at the Pappajohn Center.

There will be several changes within the program during the next year, she said, but the goal is to establish a “system of learning” at the center to help students experience many facets of business and entrepreneurship.