Jim Roberts
Roberts honored for community service
Outgoing Bartholomew Community Schools Superintendent Jim Roberts will receive another academic degree this spring — the Ivy Tech Columbus Region’s honorary associate of science degree for community service.
Ivy Tech Columbus Chancellor Steven Combs announced the honor Tuesday at a meeting of the Columbus region’s board of trustees, of which Roberts is a member. The honorary degree will be presented to Roberts at Ivy Tech’s commencement ceremony on May 10 at Columbus North High School.
“This person really had a big impact on education … and we feel the time is right for this award,” Combs said in announcing Roberts as this year’s recipient.
Roberts, who led the public school system for eight years, will retire at the end of this school year and move to a new role as vice president of the Community Education Coalition in Columbus in July.
Franciscan offering career camp
INDIANAPOLIS – Franciscan Health Indianapolis is accepting applications for the free Explore Healthcare Career Camp, June 10 to 21.
EHCC provides an opportunity for teens ages 14 to 19, with a 2.8 GPA or higher, who are interested in the medical field to learn about different healthcare jobs, talk to professionals and find out about school and career paths. The camp provides a chance to see what it is like to work in healthcare and set goals for the future.
Franciscan Health Indianapolis will provide students with hands on experience in a hospital setting through shadowing and volunteer opportunities. The first week encompasses orientation, professional development sessions, tours, panel discussions, and activities focused on understanding healthcare careers and their educational prerequisites. The second week involves shadowing and volunteer work in hospital and patient care environments.
Applicants must have a letter of recommendation from a non-family member adult and write an essay, expressing interest in healthcare exploration, detailing past experiences in healthcare environments and specifying their preferred career path. Space is limited to 20 participants, who must pass a screening process, including immunization, health test and drug screening requirements.
The camp will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, June 10 to 21 at Franciscan Health Indianapolis, 8111 S. Emerson Ave., Indianapolis and the Franciscan Education Center, 421 N Emerson Ave., Greenwood.
Applications for the program are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 5 and are available at franciscanhealth.org/about/news-and-media/franciscan-health-accepting-applications-for-explore-healthcare-career-camp-in-indianapolis.
Students named to Dean’s list
Concordia Theology
Columbus: Adam Everroad
Furman University
Columbus: Lukas Iorio
iEngage camp registration opens
Registration is now open for a free weeklong camp at IU Columbus, June 24 to 28, for students currently in grades 4-8 to learn how to make a difference in their school, neighborhood and community.
Register for the iEngage civics camp at go.iu.edu/iengage. Early sign-up is encouraged; space is limited to the first 90 campers.
There is no cost to those who participate in iEngage. In addition to the camp itself, students are provided a camp T-shirt, lunch and snacks each day, and if needed, wrap-around care and transportation to and from the Foundation for Youth, 405 Hope Ave.
“We want youth to feel that this community also belongs to them, as we pass down democracy purposefully to the next generation,” explained Stephanie Serriere, Ph.D., iEngage Executive Director and IU Columbus Professor of Social Studies Education. “At a time when our nation is more polarized than ever, we are teaching young people how to work collaboratively, have their voices heard, and make a difference.”
Serriere noted that after participating in iEngage, last year’s campers:
- increased their knowledge of what’s happening in the community
- saw themselves as more involved citizens
- increased their belief that they could make a difference in their community
- were more likely to do research and get others involved in solving a community issue
The Columbus iEngage program closely involves local leaders in the non-profit sector, industry and public service. iEngage features a different guest speaker each day, a community fair of local nonprofit groups, and mid-week presentations to a panel of local representatives. This year’s camp will also feature a session on college readiness and campus tours. On Friday, campers present their findings to the public during formal presentations and a celebration with root beer floats at the Columbus Learning Center.
New this year is the role of community-based codirectors, Angie Kirkham and Greicy Patiño, as well as a partnership with the Council for Youth Development (CYD). CYD’s new Youth Empowerment Program Coordinator, Freddie King, will serve as an iEngage Master Teacher, and CYD Youth Ambassadors will serve as camp interns. IU Columbus Education students and graduates will again serve as camp counselors. In addition, this year’s camp co-director is Elizabeth Osborn, Ph.D., representing IU’s Center on Representative Government.
The IU Columbus iEngage program is funded by the Heritage Fund Positive Change Grant, Duke Energy, the Cummins Foundation, Bill and Norma Perry Memorial Fund, Don and Doddy Harvey Philanthropic Fund, the IU Center on Representative Government, and IU’s Office of School and Community Partnerships through Lilly Endowment’s Indiana Youth Programs on Campus.
In addition, iEngage is partnered with the Foundation for Youth, the Council for Youth Development, Indiana University Columbus, Indiana University’s Political and Civic Engagement program, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.
To learn more, visit go.iu.edu/iengage. To donate to the Columbus iEngage program, visit go.iu.edu/iengagesupport.
Ivy Tech trustees reappointed
Two members of the board of trustees for Ivy Tech’s Columbus region were reappointed to three-year terms during a board meeting on Tuesday.
Board chairman Richard Beckort and member Kathy Covert, both of whom represent Jackson County, will continue to serve on the board through June 30, 2027.
Civil Air Patrol youth to do research
Local youth involved in the Civil Air Patrol are actively training to aid NASA, the Indiana State Police, and the Columbus Municipal Airport during the April 8 solar eclipse.
Cadets, who range in age from 12 to 18, and their leaders will partner with NASA to collect data regarding the effects of the solar eclipse on weather and VHF radio operations. Over 250 Civil Air Patrol squadrons spanning seven different zones will team together to collect this valuable data.
Civil Air Patrol cadets have also been undergoing hours of flight marshaling training in preparation to aid the Columbus Municipal Airport in managing the influx of air traffic the solar eclipse is anticipated to cause.
With soaring numbers of projected tourists visiting for the solar eclipse, the Civil Air Patrol has been asked to aid the state police in monitoring traffic conditions from the sky with their fleet of planes.
If you would like to assist the Civil Air Patrol in data collection, you can register yourself, your classroom, community organization, or homeschool group as a CAP Solar Eclipse Classroom. There are four missions to choose from: Astronomy, Biology, Weather, and Citizen Science. The deadline for registration is March 31. More information is available at gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/aerospace-education/curriculum/2024-solar-eclipse.
For more information about Civil Air Patrol, visit gocivilairpatrol.com.
AirPark to have career fair
The Columbus AirPark Campus invites job-seekers to its Career Fair April 3, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Columbus Learning Center.
More than 50 area employers will be seeking full-time staffers, as well as some part-time roles and internships.
Featured jobs span many sectors, including business, construction, education, engineering, communications, hospitality, health care, human services, and technology.
This event is free and open to the public. Attendees should bring printed copies of their resume.
The Airpark Campus Career Fair will take place throughout the Columbus Learning Center, located at 4555 Central Ave. in Columbus.
For more information, visit go.iu.edu/6iH1.
