Eastern Kentucky University receives gift to fund Word Detective camp for kids
The Kentucky Association of Health Plans has given the university $50,000 to fund the camp for children with dyslexia to gain confidence in their learning abilities. Additionally, the gift will fund scholarships for students in the graduate speech-language pathology program.
Eastern Kentucky University has received a gift in the amount of $50,000 from the Kentucky Association of Health Plans, which represents Medicaid managed care organizations and commercial insurers in Kentucky, in order to fund a summer camp for kids with dyslexia called Word Detective. The camp will run for the summers of 2025, 2026, and 2027 at the university’s Corbin Campus. Additionally, funding from the KAHP will go toward scholarships for graduate students studying in the speech-language pathology program.
According to an article on Eastern Kentucky University’s website, Tom Stephens, who serves as the president and CEO of the Kentucky Association of Health Plans, was quoted as saying of the organization’s support for Word Detective, “At KAHP, we believe access to quality healthcare and education go hand in hand. By supporting EKU’s Word Detective summer camp and speech-language pathology program, we are investing in the future of Kentucky’s children and the professionals who will serve them. This initiative not only provides crucial literacy support for students with dyslexia but also helps develop a stronger pipeline of speech-language pathologists who will make a lasting impact in communities across Southeast Kentucky.”
The camp provides reading exercises, writing activities, and interactive games to help the participating kids gain confidence and continue learning important literacy skills. Elementary school children who would benefit from participating in the program will be identified via the university’s collaboration with local school districts. The camp is staffed by graduate students from the university’s speech-language pathology program, all of whom will be supervised by a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. The opportunity provides graduate students with necessary clinical training in their field.
The university’s president, David McFaddin, said of the support from KAHP and how it will benefit the university, “EKU is dedicated to breaking down barriers to education and empowering students of all ages to reach their fullest potential. The generous support from the Kentucky Association of Health Plans exemplifies this commitment by providing essential resources to children and advancing the training of future speech-language pathologists. We are deeply grateful for this investment, which will make a lasting, positive impact on both the children we serve and the professionals who will continue to support this region for years to come.”
Graduate students in the speech-language pathology program at EKU will also benefit from the scholarships that will be possible through the KAHP gift. The scholarships will be awarded to students who are interested in working in the university’s service region following the completion of their studies.
For more information about Eastern Kentucky University, visit the school’s website.