The nearly $500,000 grant will allow the university to host events designed to bring students from across the state to campus to experience immersive education opportunities.
Indiana Wesleyan University has received a grant in the amount of $499,867 from Lilly Endowment’s Indiana Youth Programs on Campus initiative. The grant funding will allow the university to host events that will bring students from across the state of Indiana to its campus in Marion to experience immersive, hands-on education opportunities and become engaged in the idea of attending higher education after high school.
According to an article on Indiana Wesleyan University’s website, Lauren Schneider, who serves as the university’s director of academic youth programs, was quoted as saying of the grant funding, “This grant allows us to deepen our partnerships with Indiana schools and create meaningful, hands-on experiences that help students envision themselves in college. For many students, especially those who are first-generation, stepping onto a college campus can be transformative. It helps make higher education feel attainable rather than out of reach.”
The grant will fund these opportunities for the next three years. The university will partner with local school districts to host events aimed at elementary, middle, and high school students. These events will introduce students to the idea of college education, introduce potential career pathways, and help them build confidence in their academic abilities.
Among the experiences on campus, which will be led by university faculty and staff, is the Wildcats Summer Academy. This program introduces students to a variety of subjects students can go on to study in college and the careers that would become available to them, with an emphasis placed on students creating meaningful connections with faculty members and current university students. The university reports that of the high school seniors who participated in the Wildcats Summer Academy, 48.9% enrolled in college in 2024 and 100% enrolled in 2025.
Jon Kulaga, Ph.D., who serves as the president of Indiana Wesleyan University, said, “At IWU, we are committed to expanding access to Christ-centered higher education and helping students see that college is both possible and purposeful. We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for investing in Indiana’s young people and for partnering with us to inspire the next generation to pursue their calling and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”
For more information about Indiana Wesleyan University, visit the school’s website.