Grant Wood Area Education Agency’s College for Kids is a summer program offering advanced level academic and fine arts courses in the college setting to eligible students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. During the College for Kids experience, students are offered advanced or specialized curricula, and have the opportunity to further explore a hobby or a topic of interest not typically available in middle school general education.
Through the Marion Foundation Grant Program, scholarships were offered to eligible Vernon Middle School and Marion Home School students for the Summer 2023 College for Kids program.
According to Grant Wood AEA Student Programs Specialist Susie Green, “This grant program has been successful since its formation. The scholarships have been rewarding and beneficial to Marion students/families. Through this unique and ongoing scholarship relationship, the Foundation and Grant Wood AEA staff have continued to improve the communication and efficiency of the process.”
During the summer of 2023, this grant project impacted 33 Marion students: 22 Vernon Middle School students and 11 Marion Home School students. Overall, since 2011, this grant project has impacted 291 Marion students, an average of 22 students per summer.
To hear more from students who participated in the College for Kids program, visit this website to view interviews from middle school students.
The Marion Foundation’s grant program provides teachers an opportunity to receive funding for projects that benefit students in the Marion Independent School District. Grants are made possible because of generous contributions the Foundation receives throughout the year from both businesses and individuals as well as a number of educational funds that are invested with the Foundation for long-term benefit.