DePauw Students Reach Out to Local Youngsters Through 'No Excuses University'

January 19, 2010

January 19, 2010, Greencastle, Ind. —  A program presented by DePauw University and Greencastle's Ridpath Primary School -- known as No Excuses University -- "exposes young students to the powerful symbolism of college," reports today's Banner-Graphic. "The symbolism can be seen in the college flags and banners hung throughout the school and in the classrooms," writes Shannen Hayes, who notes, "On Friday, members of the Honor Scholar Program and DePauw President Brian Casey presented DePauw T-shirts to all Ridpath students." (at left: Dr. Casey with a Ridpath student who is wearing one of the shirts)

"Our students have stepped up to the plate,"  Amy Welch, associate director of DePauw's Honor Scholar Program, tells the newspaper. "We want to make college tangible to the kids," said Welch. 

As Hayes points out, "DePauw students from first-year to seniors in the scholar program worked to raise money for 250 T-shirts for each Ridpath student. The college students won't stop with just the shirts. Once the weather becomes nicer, the college students plan to invite the smaller students to campus for a kickball game and give them a tour of DePauw, said Welch. No Excuses University actively promotes a comprehensive model of college readiness to students the moment they begin elementary school. Educators at No Excuses Universities believe they have the power to influence every student to be academically successful."

Read the complete article at the newspaper's Web site.

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