Ridpath paired with DePauw for No Excuses University, Honor Scholars donate T-shirts
By: Katherine Janowski
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: News
Students at Ridpath Elementary School are receiving inspiration to stay in school through creative, yet untraditional means.
DePauw students in the Honor Scholar Program provided this inspiration by purchasing 100 DePauw University shirts for the students at Ridpath.
The proposal to donate the shirts originated from a conversation between Honor Scholar Program Directors' Kevin Moore and Amy Welch, along with Pedar Foss, dean of academic life.
Ridpath is a pilot school for No Excuses University, a program emphasizing to young students that there are no excuses to not do their best work. Each classroom is paired with an Indiana state school, while the entire elementary school is affiliated with DePauw University.
"We are trying to help kids, even in kindergarten, know that the choices they make now make a big difference later on," Ridpath Principal Janice True said.
Amy Welch thought the program would be a great cause for the Honor Scholar students. When she presented the idea to the Honor Scholar council, they "were stoked," Welch said.
To raise money, the Honor Scholars paid $14 for the $10 shirts they buy annually. The extra money provided a shirt for each student at Ridpath.
"Our initial goal was to purchase about half of the shirts," Welch said.
However, more Honor Scholars bought shirts then previously expected and they received enough money to fund the students at Ridpath.
"Making college tangible is a huge step for this push for education," Welch said.
True invited the Honor Scholar students, along with Welch and President Brian Casey, to the elementary school during Winter Term to present the shirts.
"It was quite possibly the coolest thing in my career," Welch said.
Vishal Khandelwal, a first-year Honor Scholar who helped pass out the shirts, thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the Ridpath students.
"It was nice to see how young children have such great minds because they were coming up with innovating ideas," Khandelwal said.
"I think it helps the kids feel a stronger connection with DePauw and helps kids feel belonging," True said.
The Honor Scholar program plans to do more work with Ridpath, especially as the weather gets warmer. The Honor Scholars have many goals, including extending an invitation to come over and visit DePauw's campus, Welch said.
Welch reinforced that all students, whether affliated with the Honor Scholar Program or not, are welcome to help with these efforts.
"There really is an impact on the community with something as simple as a T-shirt," Welch said.
DePauw students in the Honor Scholar Program provided this inspiration by purchasing 100 DePauw University shirts for the students at Ridpath.
The proposal to donate the shirts originated from a conversation between Honor Scholar Program Directors' Kevin Moore and Amy Welch, along with Pedar Foss, dean of academic life.
Ridpath is a pilot school for No Excuses University, a program emphasizing to young students that there are no excuses to not do their best work. Each classroom is paired with an Indiana state school, while the entire elementary school is affiliated with DePauw University.
"We are trying to help kids, even in kindergarten, know that the choices they make now make a big difference later on," Ridpath Principal Janice True said.
Amy Welch thought the program would be a great cause for the Honor Scholar students. When she presented the idea to the Honor Scholar council, they "were stoked," Welch said.
To raise money, the Honor Scholars paid $14 for the $10 shirts they buy annually. The extra money provided a shirt for each student at Ridpath.
"Our initial goal was to purchase about half of the shirts," Welch said.
However, more Honor Scholars bought shirts then previously expected and they received enough money to fund the students at Ridpath.
"Making college tangible is a huge step for this push for education," Welch said.
True invited the Honor Scholar students, along with Welch and President Brian Casey, to the elementary school during Winter Term to present the shirts.
"It was quite possibly the coolest thing in my career," Welch said.
Vishal Khandelwal, a first-year Honor Scholar who helped pass out the shirts, thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the Ridpath students.
"It was nice to see how young children have such great minds because they were coming up with innovating ideas," Khandelwal said.
"I think it helps the kids feel a stronger connection with DePauw and helps kids feel belonging," True said.
The Honor Scholar program plans to do more work with Ridpath, especially as the weather gets warmer. The Honor Scholars have many goals, including extending an invitation to come over and visit DePauw's campus, Welch said.
Welch reinforced that all students, whether affliated with the Honor Scholar Program or not, are welcome to help with these efforts.
"There really is an impact on the community with something as simple as a T-shirt," Welch said.
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