Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College receives grant from Lilly Endowment

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has received $350,000 via Lilly Endowment's Indiana Youth Programs on Campus (IYPC) initiative to benefit the school’s Challenging Ambitions and Maximizing Potential (C.A.M.P.) initiative. The IYPC initiative aims to fund colleges and universities throughout the state that offer enrichment activities for kids aged 5-18 on their campuses. The CAMP initiative was originally established via a separate grant from Lilly Endowment in 2023. CAMP provides participants with cultural experiences and opportunities to explore future careers and education.

According to an article on SMWC’s website, Janet Clark, Ph.D., who serves as the college’s provost/executive vice president for academic affairs, was quoted as saying of the grant funding, “We are once again grateful to Lilly Endowment and the IYPC initiative for its investment in C.A.M.P. at The Woods. The outcomes and student satisfaction in the program thus far have exceeded our expectations, and we look forward to further success in the future, engaging students with higher education and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.”

CAMP at The Woods is co-directed by Kim LaComba, Ph.D., director of the Ph.D. in Global Leadership program, and Crystal White, DNP, FNP-C, RN. The two have been involved in the program since it began and were also instrumental in securing this most recent grant for the program.

LaComba said, “Each C.A.M.P. at The Woods course—and the program as a whole—centers on a growth mindset. Travel-based experiential learning has powerfully transformed our students through cultural immersion and new experiences, both domestically and abroad, connected to the course curriculum. We are grateful to continue to provide these opportunities.”

So far, CAMP has served 90 high school students, 10% of whom have gone on to enroll at SMWC as a full-time degree seeking student following their participation in the program. Individuals who complete the program receive two college credits. Courses in the CAMP program include Introduction to Equine Industry, Leaders of Positive Change, Nurses of the Future, Applied Methods of Environmental Sustainability, Introduction to Health and Wellness, and Teachers of the Future.

LaComba and White intend to grow the program even more in the future to incorporate even more valuable experiences for the participants. In 2026, the program will include domestic travel with faculty members, dubbed Faculty Led Discovery Adventures.

White said, “Over the next three years, we aim to expand our CAMP programs to inspire high school students through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning. By strengthening community partnerships and fostering leadership, cultural awareness, and early college engagement, we hope to prepare youth, especially from underserved areas, for success in college and beyond.”

Forty students are expected to participate in the 2025 session of CAMP.

For more information about Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, visit the school’s website.