PAWS in Top 60 for grant money
USU’s Access and Diversity Center’s proposal to better the success of children struggling in grade school is ranked No. 56 out of 1,140 in a grant competition for $250,000, as of Sunday night.
The organization’s proposal that receives the greatest number of votes from supporters will have the freedom to spend the grant money toward their cause however they choose. If the Access and Diversity Center’s cause receives the most votes, they will use the money for students who are involved in the program Pursuing Academics With Success (PAWS) and improve the quality of their education opportunities, said Todd Milovich, educational outreach coordinator.
He said if their proposal receives the most votes, $100,000 will go toward scholarships for students who need “extra help,” that are attending Wilson Elementary School and South Campus High School in Logan. The remaining $150,000 will be used to pay the students’ tutors
and take them on field trips.
“It’s all for education, for a better world,” Milovich said. “Everyone should have the best chance they can get.”
PAWS was pioneered by Wilson Elementary School’s principal, Sundee Ware, who has been focused on creating the best opportunities for her students, especially because the school has a large number of students who speak English as a second language, Milovich said. Many individuals and organizations are collaborating to support PAWS, including teachers, South Campus High School, USU students and staff, the Logan Library and Bridgerland Literacy, Milovich said.
Perhaps Wilson Elementary School’s strongest relationship is with South Campus High School, Milovich said, which is an alternate institution for students struggling to keep passing grades. These students are encouraged to participate in PAWS and assist elementary school students as tutors. South Campus students may only become tutors if they pass an exam for which USU tutors help them study, Milovich said.
Currently, five USU students are tutors for South Campus students. Michelle Bogdan, director of the Access and Diversity Center said her number-one goal is to help more elementary and high school students eventually become college students.
In addition to tutoring, USU students organize programs for the elementary school students. Sophomore Ethan DeVilbiss facilitates outreach music programs throughout the year.
“We hope to instill a sense of stewardship and leadership in these students so that one day they will pay it forward,” Bogdan said. “Doing that for the kids now will give them the skills they need to, hopefully, go back into their community and do the same thing.”
The collaboration of kindergarten through the university level will strengthen educational alliances in Cache Valley, Bogdan said. She said her hope is to have the students that participate in PAWS go to USU after high school graduation, but she said she realizes some of them may have other dreams.
– catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu