Area colleges offer summer youth programs

FORT WAYNE—For the 16th consecutive year, Allen County youth will have the opportunity to explore vocational options this summer, thanks to the combined efforts of five area colleges and a grant from the Foellinger Foundation. This July, youth will be able to look into the field of business and engineering, explore the arts, coach a sports program, work with computers, try out new recipes, examine project management and engineering, prepare for college entrance exams and learn about the health.

The five colleges—Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute of Technology, Ivy Tech Community College, Taylor University Fort Wayne and the University of St. Francis— each have daily programs planned for Monday through Friday, July 6 to July 31. The programs are geared toward giving middle school and high school youth opportunities to work with faculty and staff from each campus.

High school and college students will be hired for positions to work with younger children through the programs. At TUFW high school students will serve as coaches and mentors for elementary students in avariety of sports programs. At IPFW, students in grades nine through 12 can learn about opportunities in project management and engineering, plus work with faculty and individuals in the field.

Middle school students, grades six through eight, have a chance to gain hands-on experience in the areas of business and engineering at IIT or culinary arts, health professions and technology at Ivy Tech.

Parents of children in elementary school, ages seven through 12, can involve their children in the sports program at Taylor University or art classes at St. Francis.

All programs are available at little or no cost and are funded in part through a grant from the Foellinger Foundation. Parents interested in learning more about the programs should contact the representative from the specific campus. For IPFW, call Christopher Riley, (260) 481-6847; for IIT call, Lori Wachtman at (260) 422-5561 ext. 2338; for ITCC, call Sheri Dunlavy at (260) 480-2084; for TUFW, call Deb Shaw at (260) 744-8821, and for St. Francis, call Amy Shreiber at (260) 399-7700 ext 8001.

For questions about the programs in general, contact Doug Barcalow at (260) 744-8641.

This is part of the July 8, 2009 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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