Enriching the surrounding communities

Concert series in Henry County

IU East launched a new concert series in conjunction with the opening of the Henry County Art Center last June 23. The concert series, supported in part by a grant from the Henry County Community Foundation, featured the group The Full Stringer Quartet. Another concert is in the works for this spring.

Kids College

For the past seven years, third-grade students from Vaile Elementary school in Richmond have gotten a taste of college at Mighty U, a program sponsored by the IU East Alumni Association. “The program provides an excellent opportunity to bring children to IU East and introduce them to the joys of learning,” explained Bette Davenport, director of alumni relations at IU East.

But last year’s Mighty U grads got scholarships to extend the fun. Through a Wayne County Foundation grant funded by the Mary Louise Custer Unrestricted Memorial Fund, the Harry and Catherine Thomas Unrestricted Memorial Fund and Lilly Unrestricted Fund, the young scholars received Kids College Too scholarships for Kids College. Kids College is a summer enrichment program run by the IU East Division of Extended Learning. “Summer is the time for students to try out new activities,” said Janet Davidson, director of the Division of Extended Learning at IU East. “We develop courses that the students may not get in the regular school year, and this gives them the opportunity to learn a new skill or develop a new interest.”

‘Access Means Parents in School’

The IU East Child Development Center received an “Access Means Parents in School” grant. The grant’s purpose is to assist lower-income students with the cost of child care while they are attending college. The award is for approximately $16,000 a year over the next four years, with 75 percent of the money dedicated to starting a child-care scholarship. The other 25 percent will be used for teacher training and supplies to prepare the center for the accreditation. “We are pleased that we now have the funds to assist students with their child-care expenses,” said Karla Davis, interim director of the Child Development Center. “We’re also excited about the prospect of becoming the first accredited child-care facility in Wayne County.”