Franklin College announced today it has received a $489,480 implementation grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its two-phase initiative, Indiana Youth Programs on Campus (IYPC).  

IYPC is an initiative designed to help Indiana colleges and universities in their efforts to create new or expand and enhance existing high-quality, on-campus programs for Hoosier youth, ages 5 – 18. Through this initiative, the Endowment has allocated more than $28.8 million for planning grants and program implementation grants. Indiana public and private colleges and universities that have a physical campus in the state were eligible to participate.

The grant funds the college received will support the launch of “Camp GRIZ.” The camp framework will include three STEM tracks, a creative writing track and a fine arts track. All of the tracks are positioned under the key liberal arts skill of storytelling and will serve 6^th through 9^th graders. In addition to the academic content, campers will learn about the opportunities available at a liberal arts institution, including opportunities to develop leadership and teamwork skills.

“Effective communication and collaboration are some of the most important skills our young people need to prepare for high school, college and ultimately the workforce,” noted Kristin Flora, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “Whether through graphic design, the written word, or data visualization, campers will learn how to work together to explain complex concepts to the outside world.”

“We deeply appreciate Lilly Endowment’s investments in Indiana’s higher education landscape,” said Franklin College President Kerry N. Prather. “We look forward to contributing to the overall statewide movement to develop students’ college-going identities at an early age and to engaging with students and their families as they envision their postsecondary futures, no matter which institution they ultimately choose.”

“By supporting these efforts, we hope that more young people in Indiana will experience what it’s like to be on a college campus and take part in meaningful programs that can help prepare them for success in college,” said Ted Maple, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for education. “It is our belief that these programs will not only add to the academic enrichment of young people but also inspire them to see higher education institutions in Indiana as part of their plans for life after high school.”

Goals for the initiative include increasing the number of Indiana youth who obtain valuable postsecondary degrees and credentials from Indiana colleges and universities and strengthening how schools recruit and educate students who are traditionally underserved, including students of color, first-generation college students and students from families with limited resources.

The college was awarded a $50,000 phase-one planning grant from the initiative earlier this year. Those funds supported work to explore best practices in programming for youth and determine the most effective ways for the college to implement its chosen programming.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. Although the Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana

To learn more about the Indiana Youth Programs on Campus initiative, visit lillyendowment.org/iypc.

POSTED Aug 29, 2022