University of Evansville receives Lilly Endowment grant for youth programs

The University of Evansville has recently received an Indiana Youth Programs on Campus (IYPC) Round II grant from Lilly Endowment in the amount of $500,000. This Round II grant award follows the university’s initial $1 million award from the initial funding round in 2022. With the newest award, the university will continue to build upon its earlier successes in college readiness youth programming and introduce new programs and initiatives.

According to an article on the University of Evansville’s website, Apryl Weatherford, who serves as the university’s Director of Youth Programs, was quoted as saying of the grant receipt, "This grant from Lilly Endowment enables us to deepen our commitment to young people across Evansville. We are especially excited to welcome new and returning students to campus for this summer's camps starting in June. Registration is open now, and we can't wait to see students engaging in creative learning, leadership activities, and real college experiences."

Since funding began in 2022, the university has had a total of 1,214 participants in its youth programming, with students ranging in age from kindergarten through 12th grade. These programs include summer camps for STEM, music, art, and leadership; the UE Explorers after-school program; school visits; and other outreach initiatives. The university offers these programs to many students who come from underserved areas, and many participants, if they indeed pursue college after high school graduation, would become first-generation college students.

Among the new initiatives that will come along with this round of funding are a Jr. TASL Scholars Program, STEM programming through the university’s new IN MaC Design Studio, hands-on learning experiences through the university’s We Grow Aces! vertical container farm, more arts education, and parent-child workshops for college and education planning.

The Jr. TASL Scholars Program will serve as a pipeline for the university’s existing TASL (Think. Act. Serve. Live.) scholarship program, which supports undergraduate students. The version for K-12 students will combine the programming and methods of the former Springboard summer camp and the current UE Explorers after-school program to create a year-round experience that seeks to develop kids into leaders through academic support and parent engagement.

Rob Shelby, PhD, who serves as the Vice President for Talent and Community and Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer, said, "UE's youth programming is rooted in our mission to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully in a changing world. This initiative aligns perfectly with our vision for a more inclusive, future-ready Evansville. We're not just preparing students for college, we're building changemakers."

For more information about the University of Evansville, visit the school’s website.