Page 22 - Scene Magazine 46-02 February 2021

Education Scene
BY AL SHIFFLETT III, Director of Community Engagement Office of the Vice Provost of Health
GVSU presence in Battle Creek extends beyond physical office space.
health professions through the Summer Health Activities and Professions Explo- ration Summer (sHaPe) Camp. Students
in sixth-grade can participate and learn hands-on engineering and science concepts through the Science Technology & Engi- neering Preview Summer (STEPS) Camp.
This school year, BCPS and GVSU have made available dual-enrollment to Battle Creek Central High School Junior and Senior students, providing an oppor- tunity to earn free college credits. The two courses in allied health sciences, and one in education, are taught at the high school by Grand Valley faculty members.
Free educational modules and videos have been developed that include various college-readiness topics such as essay writing, careers in health care, scholar- ships/financial aid, and career exploration. The videos are posted on the Outreach Center’s webpage, and the modules can be presented by Grand Valley staff, in-per- son, to students, and groups.
Students and educators in Battle Creek continue to find a partner with Grand Valley State University (GVSU) as classes resume for the second half of the year.
Scholarship Recipients
The GVSU Battle Creek Regional Out- reach Center, located downtown at 8 Mich- igan Ave. W., opened in November 2019 to support career exploration and educational goals for K-12 students and adults in the community, and provide resources to assist Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) with its district transformation.
Six Battle Creek Central High School (BCCHS) seniors received scholarships last May to attend Grand Valley in the fall. Through the BCPS Health and Teacher Education Pipeline Scholarship program, the students are receiving funding to cover tuition, fees, housing, and dining, plus a book stipend for eight semesters.
Dual-Enrollment Courses
An initiative stemming from a five- year, $15.5 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a partnership among Battle Creek Public Schools and Grand Valley was created to aid “the culture of vitality” in Battle Creek, according to La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Scholarships for six additional BCCHS students, in the Class of 2021, have been made available for this fall. The students will be selected this spring.
“A culture of vitality speaks to the overall tone of our community and how we’re catering to the various interests around the issues of economic growth and opportunity,” Tabron said. “They combine to transform a place into one where people want to live, work, and play.”
Summer Educational Camps
Other important aspects of the grant include BCPS partnering with Grand Valley to offer professional development programs and mentorship to educators, and establishing a teacher education pipe- line program for classroom assistants.
Recruitment is again underway for three educational summer camps for mid- dle and high school students from BCPS. High School juniors can learn about teaching youth and gain college preparation knowledge during the Exploring Careers in Education and Learning (EXCEL) Camp. Students in grades seven and eight can learn and experience careers in nursing and
The GVSU Battle Creek Regional Outreach Center is open Monday – Friday from 8am-5pm. Drop-In Virtual Advising Hours are also available through Zoom. For more information and/or to schedule an advising appointment in-person, visit http://gvsu.edu/battlecreek.
Recent highlights of the partnership and grant are listed here.
President Philomena V. Mantella said the scholarship program is another tangible outcome of this transformative partnership.
“Throughout this partnership, we have talked about providing students in Battle Creek with opportunities to thrive,” Mantel- la said. “I am pleased these six students and many others were supported in pursuing their college dreams by taking advantage of advising and other important resources.”
Educational Resources
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