Scholarships, Sponsorships, Support: It All Goes to Good

With programs centered around science, esports, cooking and so much more, there are opportunities for students to explore any number of topics that pique their interest. While many participants begin as young children and return again and again, reaching children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend is at the center of what Youth Programs works to do. The program's mission, to provide educational opportunities to K-12 students that inspire curiosity, growth and success while expanding access, keeps this goal at the forefront.

Expanding access is something interim director of Youth Programs Rae Vaughan is passionate about. She said, "Providing scholarships to students who could not otherwise attend a camp is very important to us. We believe in the camp experience, the skills learned and the relationships fostered while at camp. These things are often life-changing for students as they come to our programs from all walks of life, eager to learn, ready to make new friends, and ready to take on new challenges while discovering gifts they didn't know they had."

 In the past fiscal year (July 2022 – June 2023), Youth Programs partnered with Gus Bus, Gear Up and Waynesboro City Schools to provide more than $14,300 in scholarships for participants. Scholarships included transportation to and from camp and daily lunches. In total, approximately 60 children were able to participate in camp or class because of sponsor dollars. 

Looking forward into the future of Youth Programs, we see many more opportunities and adventures to expand the support that we can give to young Dukes of all backgrounds from a multitude of communities and cultures. Giving the gift of community and cultivating a passion for learning can give our new generation the building blocks and confidence  they need to be the change-makers that we already know they can be.