Joshua Wilks
Moving On student creating a drum to play at
graduation.
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Thirty Hoosier youth wrapped up two weeks of Moving On
at IU’s Richmond campus July 31, “moving on”
to new activities after a taste of campus life.
Moving On is part of the IU East Educational Awareness
Project, which targets under-represented and under-prepared
students. The program helps students, grades 7-12, overcome
the traditional challenges that middle school and high
school minority students face when trying to excel in
school.
IU East faculty and staff collaborate with teachers from
Richmond Community Schools in designing the enrichment
program. This year’s theme, “Leadership in
the Community: Start with the Self,” began with
a parent orientation, followed by activities that touched
upon topics such as friendship and dating, and field trips
to the National Afro-American Museum, the USAF Museum
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Levi Coffin
House in Fountain City, a landmark of the Underground
Railroad. Students also were given reading assignments
and were required to attend science and math labs. Special
guests included Michael Cross from Indianapolis’
Center for Leadership Development and Keith Cozart, IU
East music instructor, who helped students create percussion
instruments and then learn how to play together as a group.
Graham Cooper, IU East theater instructor, provided acting
activities, and Patrick and Shenita Piper worked on a
performance for the graduation ceremony. For the first
time, parents were invited to a family math and science
evening, held in partnership with Indiana Families, Schools
and Communities Partnership Center of Indianapolis, and
led by Peggy Branstrator.
Ashlie Sellers, a senior at Richmond High School, has
attended Moving On for the last five years. “The
multicultural part gives me new encounters that I would
otherwise not experience,” she said.
Sellers is applying to Spelman College and Purdue University,
with plans for a double major in pre-law and psychology.
She may possibly return next year as a Moving On counselor.
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