From Farm to Classroom: Mushroom grower finds solution at MSU

Morehead State University ensures its graduates can engage in hands-on experiences through our Level UP program.

Employers are looking for graduates with career skills such as oral communication, teamwork, and critical thinking, in addition to discipline-specific knowledge. Level UP courses intentionally focus on developing a career skill through undergraduate research, education abroad, service learning, or an internship.

One example of this hands-on Level UP learning is Assistant Professor of Art & Design Dr. Siriporn Peters’ ART 305 Graphic Design II course, which focuses on developing professionalism through a service-learning project.

Matt Lowe, who founded and runs Brickyard Fungi in Morehead, had an issue that he needed help solving. He found that the commercial packaging he had available had too much airflow, which dried out his fresh mushrooms. Peters stepped up to fill this need and brought a unique learning experience to her students.

Students were tasked with creating a design that reflected the vibe of Brickyard Fungi that could be cut into the package for branding, as well as provide proper airflow.

Elijah Loiacono, a sophomore from Burnside majoring in art with a concentration on graphic design, has taken the lead on working with Lowe to solve this issue. He describes his Level UP course experience as one that “elevates the class beyond the textbook level, and the hands-on experience has helped me learn significantly more. I’ve been able to take my sketches and drawings and bring what I’ve created into real life in the form of functional packaging for Brickyard Fungi.”

Lowe has appreciated the customized attentiveness to the unique needs of his business.

“I cherish this partnership and value the interest in what I do and willingness to help the community,” he said.

Students in Level UP courses also receive instruction and feedback on using proven approaches to demonstrate they have developed the course’s emphasized career skill and discuss it during interviews. This equips students with both experience and the ability to market themselves effectively in the job market.

Peters believes in the value of Level UP courses so much that she teaches multiple sections each semester.

“Some students engage in more in-depth internships working on-site with employer partners, while others meet a unique need of the community through a service-learning project,” Peters said. “This collaboration allows our students more creative exploration and helps them be ready for careers.”

For more information on the Level UP program, contact the Center for Career Development & Experiential Education at levelup@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2233.

Photo: Morehead State Level UP students were tasked with creating a design for mushroom boxes for Brickyard Fungi in Morehead.

Upper right, left to right: Brickyard Fungi owner Matt Lowe observes Assistant Professor of Art & Design Dr. Siriporn Peters and Elijah Loiacono, a sophomore from Burnside majoring in art with a concentration on graphic design, as they work on the boxes.