A local coalition is challenging others to redefine how people view college and who should attend.

A local coalition is challenging others to redefine how people view college and who should attend.
“College is any education you receive after you graduate with a high school diploma – whether it’s 6 weeks or 10 years,” said Kent Cocking, director of guidance at Marion High School.
Kent is part of a small steering team for Grant County’s College Success Coalition, which formed earlier this year. The purpose of the Coalition is to establish community partnerships around a common goal – to get local youths to complete their educations.

On November 29th, community members and leaders are invited to participate in an education forum from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Marion’s Ivy Tech Community College conference center. One of the purposes of the meeting will be to discuss local activities that are taking place to promote education and college success to youths. The community, including representatives from businesses, organizations, clubs, non-profits and churches are encouraged to attend the lunch.

“There is a need to coordinate the activities of people in the community who do things for college success,” said Coalition Steering Team member Ellen Spitzer. “We want a lot of different sections of the community to join the discussion. We want to know about what they’re doing so that we don’t continue to repeat the same activities.

Debbie Dailey, director of guidance at Mississinewa High School, said: “Sometimes we hear negative in the community, such as comments about the unemployment rate and ask, ‘What are people doing to fix that?’ This College Success Coalition initiative is trying to put positive energy behind something needed in the community. We want people to come to the meeting who are interested in seeing the workforce change.”

Bengie Rodriguez, a manager at Grant County’s Wal-mart Distribution Center, is encouraging businesses to participate in the forum, pointing toward the push in the workforce sector for education and the new expectations employers place on future employees. “At Wal-mart, there is a real push to go to school,” he said.

Cocking agreed that it’s vital for businesses and organizations with opportunities that allow students to further their educations beyond high school to join in on the community discussion.
“We spend way too much time in education circles pushing kids into four-year colleges,” he said. “Many four-year college students already know how to get there. But there are so many opportunities for kids in the community to get trainings beyond that,” Cocking added, pointing toward examples of certifications and apprenticeships that can help prepare students for the workforce. “We need to centralize as a community so that parents and students know how to access these opportunities. We should devise wrap around services for every kid that leaves high school so that no matter where they’re going, they’re prepared.”
To RSVP for the Nov. 29th community forum, call Project Leadership at 651-0650 or e-mail tpearson@projectleadership.org.

Project Leadership Announces Third Annual Portfolio Contest

Each participant in Project Leadership’s mentoring program is encouraged to showcase their skills,
talents and dreams in their very own Portfolio. While the primary purpose of the Portfolio is to help students market themselves, it can also be means of generating awards and recognition on its own.

Each year, Project Leadership sponsors a student Portfolio contest. Submissions for this year’s contest must be received at Project Leadership’s offices no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 14, 2010. Awards will be given for the best overall freshman, sophomore and junior Portfolios. Single page prizes will also be awarded for each Portfolio section.

Project Leadership's Portfolio contest is open to students in both Delaware and Grant Counties. Please deliver your contest entries to the Project Leadership office in your county.

Delaware County: 2500 N. Elgin St., Muncie
Grant County: 505 W. Third St., Marion

Project Leadership Grant County offers College Tour field trip

On Saturday, April 17th, Project Leadership Grant County will be visiting all three of the college campuses in Grant County. This is a unique chance to learn about all of the higher education opportunities right in your own backyard! This field trip is open to Project Leadership Grant County mentees, mentors and parents.

This event will give students a chance to experience life on a college campus and look into the different areas of study that each of these institutions offer.

Bus transportation will be provided between schools, as well as to and from Project Leadership Grant County's offices. Lunch will be provided by Taylor University.

Buses will depart from Project Leadership Grant County's offices (505 West Third St., Marion) at 8:00 am and arrive back at approximately 4:30 pm.

Seating for this field trip is limited. Mentees, mentors and parents interested in taking part in this tour are asked to RSVP with Project Leadership at (765) 651-0650 or via email at:
llowe@projectleadership.org.

Meet the match: Nancy Bryant and Ashley

Meet Ashley, a sophomore at Mississinewa High School, and mentor Nancy Bryant who participate in Project Leadership’s mentoring program, which matches community volunteers with local Twenty-first Century Scholar students.

Ashley

Career goals: Make-up artist, teacher, FBI, or working for abused children.
Favorite subject: Math and gym.
Favorite book: The Bible and picture books.
Hobbies/Interests: Talking on phone, hanging out with friends, Sudoku.
Family: Mom, Dawnette; dad, Scott; 2 brothers, Tyler and Brandon; 3 sisters, Tiarra, Maggie and Gracie; nephew, Bryson.
School: Mississinewa High School.

Nancy Bryant
Career: Librarian.
Favorite subject: French, English
Favorite book: My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult.
Hobbies/interests: Reading, shopping and Sudoku.
Family: Dad, Larry; mom, Carolyn; sister, Kathy; brother, Alan; 5 nieces and nephews.
School: Mississinewa High School, Indiana University, IUPUI

TO LEARN ABOUT THE MENTORING PROGRAM: Visit http://www.projectleadership.org/ or call Project Leadership at 651-0650.

Grant County mentees Invited to Follow the North Star

The night is pitch black and you are on the run. You have risked
everything for freedom and the slave hunters are hot on your trail. You’ve nothing to guide you but the flicker of a fading lantern light. That and, of course, the light of the north star.

On April 24th, Project Leadership Grant County's mentees and mentors are invited to take part in the award-winning, immersive history experience, Follow the North Star. This award-winning presentation puts participants in the role of an escaped slave.

Over many years of historical research and development, Conner Prairie has created an experience that gives participants a real idea of what life might have been like for a slave in the search for freedom. It is an interactive glimpse into our shared past that can affect you in ways that reading a book or watching a movie cannot.

The bus for this event will leave from Project Leadership Grant County's offices (505 W. Third St., Marion) at 4:30 p.m. and is expected to return at 10:30 p.m. If you’d like to join us for this special event, please RSVP with Project Leadership at (765) 651-0650 or via email at: llowe@projectleadership.org. Seating for this event is limited and participants will be selected on a first come, first served basis.

Meet the Match: Carol Freeman and Makayla

Meet Makayla, a sophomore at Oak Hill High School, and mentor Carol Freeman who participate in Project Leadership’s mentoring program, which matches community volunteers with local Twenty-first Century Scholar students.

Makayla
Career goals: Registered Nurse.
Favorite subject: Painting and math.
Favorite book: Do not have one.
Hobbies/Interests: Hanging out with friends
Family: Mom, Michelle; dad, Marty; grandma, Jean; brothers, Marty and Ryan.
School: Oak Hill High School.

Carol Freeman
Career: Banker.
Favorite subject: English.
Favorite book: The Last Lecture.
Hobbies/interests: Gardening, decorating, riding Harley Davidson with my husband.
Family: Husband, Todd; children, Greg, Nick, Taylor and Sami.
School: Marion High School, Ball State University and Indiana Wesleyan University.

TO LEARN ABOUT THE MENTORING PROGRAM: Visit http://www.projectleadership.org/ or call Project Leadership at 651-0650.

Meet the Match: Sandra Cash and Karin

Meet Karin, a freshman at Marion High School, and mentor Sandra Cash who participate in Project Leadership’s mentoring program, which matches community volunteers with local Twenty-first Century Scholar students.

Karin
Career goals: Lawyer or a poet.
Favorite subject: Choir.
Favorite book: A Child Called “It.”
Hobbies/Interests: Singing, dancing, writing poetry, listening to music, and photography
Family: Dad, Troy; mom, Sherry; brothers, Kyle, Andy, David and Mark; sisters, Sharice and Ashley.
School: Marion High School.

Sandra Cash
Career: Resident Director at IWU.
Favorite subject: English.
Favorite book: A Wrinkle in Time.
Hobbies/interests: Cake decorating, boating, being outside in nature.
Family: Husband, Joel.
School: Oak Hill High School and Indiana Wesleyan University.

TO LEARN ABOUT THE MENTORING PROGRAM: Visit http://www.projectleadership.org/ or call Project Leadership at 651-0650.