The archaic scene seemed completely out of place at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC), the original "Laptop U" that became the first campus in the world ten years ago to issue a notebook computer to each student.

    In recent years, as holiday and semester breaks approached, students could be seen tacking notes detailing their needs for rides to their hometowns on a bulletin board in the student center lounge. Students willing to offer rides did the same. Above the bulletin board were paper cutout letters spelling out "Rideshare Board." Underneath, on the left side, were paper letters spelling out "Need a Ride." On the right, similar letters spelled "Have a Ride."

    Not exactly the cutting-edge technology UMC has been known for throughout the past decade. But, worse yet, the antiquated "Rideshare Board" simply wasn't successful at connecting students with cars to those lacking wheels who happened to be heading the same way.

    A successful connection was made this spring, however, between UMC's Service Learning program and Instructor Martin Lundell's Senior Projects course. Seeing a real need that could be met through a hands-on learning opportunity - the essential definition of service-learning - UMC's Service Learning staff and Lundell introduced the online rideshare project to seniors taking Lundell's course.

    Enter the husband-and-wife duo of Andy Smith and Stacy Kringlen-Smith. Seniors majoring in Information Technology Management (ITM) at UMC, both were looking for a "capstone" project that would involve everything they'd learned during the past four years in UMC's ITM program. The online rideshare project was just what they were looking for. After spending most of the semester building the database structure, designing the website and testing it for glitches, they unveiled it to service-learning staff and their classmates at the end of April. The result - which can be seen at http://www.umcrookston.edu/student/rideshare/ - is a functional online service for students who need rides and those willing to provide them.

    Smith and Kringlen both feel they've benefited from the real-world, hands-on learning experience.

    "This rideshare project helped me learn what to expect when actually implementing all of the technologies I've learned these past four years at UMC," said Smith, originally from Minnetonka, MN. "The project enhanced my learning and prepared me for what is to come after graduation."

    Kringlen-Smith, originally of McIntosh, MN, echoed the sentiments of her spouse and project partner.

    "Having a real client and a real project was the key, I think, because it's something that's really going to be used by students," she explained. "I can look back at the website and think, 'Wow, I created that.' Even more important, I can tell a potential employer that, too."

    The website will not only come in handy during holiday and semester breaks, it will also function for commuter students who drive to and from campus each day. It will be linked to a new Commuter Student website designed this spring by a student in another ITM class as part of another service-learning project. It can also be utilized by faculty and staff who make frequent trips to the Twin Cities and are looking to carpool.

    Both Smith and Kringlen graduated from UMC on May 10 and have relocated to the Twin Cities.

    "Because of the project, I think I'm more prepared to start my career," Kringlen-Smith said.