Psychology students at UNA are working to learn what truly motivates a volunteer in a study led and conducted by graduate student Jacinda Byrom.

Her study “Art for the Shelter” will focus on high school students’ involvement and work with animal shelters in Florence and in Corinth, Miss.

“It started as an independent study last semester,” Byrom said. “I rotated weekly between the two shelters and got to know the directors very well. We asked them what they needed.”

After discussing her ideas with her adviser, assistant professor of psychology Gabriela Carrasco, Byrom decided to create a contest that would occur among high school students at the Alcorn-Corinth Animal Shelter.

Byrom and Carrasco noticed a cycle that occurs in volunteers in which volunteers begin feeling excited initially about their involvement but gradually become bitter and defeated, resulting in the curtailment of their volunteerism. Byrom hopes to study the cycle and find a solution to a volunteer’s lack of motivation through the contest.

“We found an article that said when someone is volunteering using their talents and skills, they become more committed,” she said.

Byrom developed the “Art for the Shelter” program to observe the students’ motivation levels while they volunteered in hopes that the shelters would benefit from the interaction with the younger group while allowing the high school students to show off their creativity.

“(The high school students) are more energetic with more ideas,” Byrom said. “They have a lot of ways to motivate others.”

Over an eight-week period, students will have an opportunity to plan and design necessary changes they want to see in the Alcorn-Corinth Animal Shelter. The winning designers will have the opportunity to make their designs a reality during their spring break the final week of March. Professors from UNA will help judge the designs March 2.

Students will also compete against one another for scholarship money in which the first-place winner will receive a $100 scholarship and the second-place winner will receive a $50 scholarship.

Carrasco said she was unsurprised with Byrom’s enthusiasm for project.

“I just let her go,” Carrasco said. “We meet to discuss the research aspect. It’s really just research dialogue.”

Although the Corinth shelter is currently receiving the most attention, Byrom and Carrasco are optimistic about the aid for the Florence shelter.

“Both things are constantly evolving,” Carrasco said.

Both women are asking for donations from the community to help the students make their designs come alive.

“We need food, cash, gently used cabinets and supplies,” Byrom said. “We aren’t going to turn down additional scholarships either.”    

To provide help or to learn more about the contest, visit Art for the Shelter’s blog at artfortheshelter.weebly.com or contact Byrom at [email protected].