What's New Archive The Entrepreneur 7/20/2007 The National Museum of Education and Summit Education Initiative have developed a partnership to inspire young career-minded students who will be seniors this fall at both Garfield and Tallmadge High Schools. These select twelve students are members of Destination College, a collaborative of Akron Public Schools, Tallmadge City Schools, The University of Akron, and Summit Education Initiative designed to prepare students to make the transition from high school to college. For the first time ever, this select group has been chosen to be a part of the pilot program, sponsored by the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, to inspire entrepreneurship. Starting with the Challenge kick-off on Thursday, July 19, the 12 students will be divided into three teams, each with a Project Manager. Then, following many of the tenants of the Emmy-nominated television program, “The Apprentice”, the students will attempt to out market and outsell one another by designing original hamburger platters, which will be available for sale on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at Menches Restaurant downtown. The students will be challenged to be innovative and to use a limited number of supplies with a budget of $25 to buy ancillary supplies to create a marketing strategy, which will entice hungry Akronites, and passersby to stop to taste their delicious hamburger platters during the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on July 26. Menches Restaurant has graciously offered to participate in this learning experience for young people. Not only do they believe in the educational potential for future youth to take an interest in running their own businesses, but also, Menches has agreed to provide unique condiments and plating garnishes so that the students may be free to create. This generosity of both spirit and vision is what has made the “Menches” family a tradition in our area. Look for the three teams on South Main Street in front of the Aeros Stadium and Menches Restaurant on Thursday, July 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to pick up a flyer and to support your favorite platter or team. There will be further information available at this weekend’s National Hamburger Festival. D.C. Members Assist Nonprofits 7/20/2007 Beginning July 10, 24 rising high school seniors began working in small teams with local nonprofits on Action Research projects. The projects, part of the Destination College summer experience, provide the students with an opportunity to conduct research, interviews, surveys, and analyze data related to an issue/challenge that community organization is currently working to address. A team of five students from Tallmadge High School is working with Akron Children’s Hospital and the Summit County Suicide Prevention Coalition to ensure that the suicide prevention materials and programs it makes available to teens are relevant and appropriate. Iris Meltzer, Administrative Director, Adolescent Services is the team liaison. A team of three students from Garfield High School is working with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence to create a MySpace page for the Center. This page will be designed to help educate young people on careers in the nonprofit sector as well as market the services of CNE to other nonprofit organizations. Jennifer Dinan, Administrative Associate is the team liaison. A team of four students from Garfield High School is working with Project Learn of Summit County to educate students under the age of 18 about the consequences of dropping out of high school as it relates to a general understanding of the difficulties and requirements needed in order to take and achieve on the official GED test. These students may not be aware of the benefits of remaining in school. Kolter Kiess, Family Literacy Coordinator is the team liaison. A team of four students from Tallmadge High School is working with the Salvation Army to determine ways to increase enrollment at the Child Development Center, which serves children ages 2-5, or refocus their efforts on a different type of program that may be more useful to the community. Jackie Keller, Director of the Child Development Center is the team liaison. A team of four students from Garfield High School is working with Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens to determine how technology can be used to make the Manor House Tours more entertaining, more engaging, and most importantly to keep history relevant. Chrissy Kozey, Education Program Specialist is the team liaison. A team of four students from Garfield High School is working with Summit Education Initiative to determine, from a parent’s perspective, the accessibility and extent to which the Learning 24/7 activities that have been created for middle grade youngsters to reinforce tough math are engaging and worthwhile doing. Janice Gill, SEI Associate and Denny Buzzelli, SEI Program Associate are the liaisons for this team. The teams will write a final paper detailing their research, findings, and recommendations and will present this information to the staff of the respective organizations. Presentations will take place Thursday, July 26, Friday, July 27 and Wednesday, August 1. For more information, or to find out how your organization can participate in next year’s Action Research projects, call Diettra at 330.535.8833 or email diettra@seisummit.org. Summer Around the City 6/9/2007 Looking for summer learning activities to do with your kids? Summit Education Initiative offers several, specifically designed for kids ages 10 to 13, that help kids build math skills while having fun. Activities include “Locks of Stone,” centering on the building of the Ohio and Erie Canal; “Can You Predict?” with turtle and tortoise facts and exercises from the Akron Zoo; and “Orbit Scores,” centering on the Akron Aeros and baseball. Activities can be done at the community sites or at home. Five activities were outlined in special “goodie bags” recently distributed to students and their parents at Miller South School of the Visual and Performing Arts, Portage Path, Leggett, and Munroe elementary schools. Kids and their parents can find these activities and more at www.learning247.org and are invited to give feedback on the activities. Sponsors of Summer Around the City are: Akron Community Foundation, GAR Foundation, Mary S. and David C. Corbin Foundation, Ronald McDonald Charities® of Northeastern Ohio, Inc., RGK Foundation, The Reinberger Foundation and The Sisler McFawn Foundation. 47 Prepare for College 5/15/2007 Forty-seven high school juniors from Garfield and Tallmadge high schools took a big step toward college on May 15. Many come from families who have never gone to college, but the students have been identified by teachers and guidance counselors as having college potential if given the academic, social and financial support needed. At an Induction Dinner May 15 at the Martin Center on the University of Akron campus, they were formally inducted into Destination College. This 17-month program, now in its third year, has already helped 47 other high school juniors, from Garfield and Barberton high schools, to prepare for and make the transition to college. Now a new class is beginning its journey. Summit Education Initiative (SEI) partners with The University of Akron, Akron Public Schools and Tallmadge City Schools to operate the program, a part of the Ohio College Access Network (OCAN). Speakers at the Induction Dinner, sponsored by The University of Akron Alumni Office, included Sylvester Small, superintendent of Akron Public Schools, Jeff Ferguson, superintendent of Tallmadge City Schools, and Elizabeth Stroble, senior vice president, provost and chief operating officer, The University of Akron. The students had already taken the ACT college entrance exam in February and will begin a customized program of study that initially focuses on areas identified as needing improvement. They visited Walsh University and Stark State College of Technology this spring, and will make other college visits, as well as participate in ACT preparation on the campus of The University of Akron this summer. Local sponsors of Destination College include: Akron Beacon Journal, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Covington Communications Inc., The Knight Foundation Fund, OMNOVA Solutions Foundation and The Reinberger Foundation. Additionally, SEI received state-based funding for the two-year start-up from The Ohio College Access Network. To learn more about Destination College, click on the link for High School to Postsecondary Programs on the home page. To get involved, go to the support us page. << Back