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Pictured
front are Ansonia student Ashlee Baker and Edison volunteer
Makenzie Kreitzer. In the
background are Greenville student Ciara
Taylor and Edison volunteer Jim Kildow.
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After School
Program at Edison DCC off to great start
GREENVILLE – “This After School Program is an amazing tool that
inspires and empowers the next generation,” said Edison student Shayna
Emrick. “It gives the children a role model to look up to and a new
friend.” Shayna was among the 15 Edison students who began tutoring
younger students in a new program at Edison State Community College,
Darke County Campus.
At approximately 4 p.m. on Sept. 19 a Greenville City school bus
stopped in front of Edison for the first time. Twenty-nine Woodland and
East School students left the bus and entered the college campus to
participate in Empowering Darke County Youth’s inaugural After School
Program. Edison students and adult volunteers were on hand to work with
them. The program focuses on tutoring, homework help and mentoring.
Shayna was not the only one praising the program. Nearly two dozen
volunteers who were involved the first week agreed. Edison student
Kloey Murphey said, “I had a great opportunity to work with kids in
this community who needed some extra help. It really is a rewarding
program and I look forward to continuing to help.
“Not only does it help the kids, it benefits all of us who are
involved,” she added. Edison’s Haley Shuttleworth echoed the comments.
“The after school program is a really good program for both the
volunteers and the children,” she said. Another student volunteer,
Makenzie Kreitzer, said, “the after school program has affected me in
many ways. It has made me appreciate our community and Edison as a
whole.”
Andrea Townsend, GCSD Director of Administrative & Pupil Services,
was delighted with the enrollment the first week. On Day 1 it was 31
students… by the end of the week, it had increased to 54 students.
“I am thrilled at the response that we have had to the program!”
Townsend said. “It is growing each day. I’m excited to see the
growth students make while in the program!”
Edison Darke County Campus Dean Chad Beanblossom, said the program was
a great service to the community.
“The work Empowering Darke County Youth is doing in our community is
outstanding,” he said. “Edison State Darke County Campus is thrilled to
be a part of this tremendous service and we look forward to serving
these students in the future. Thanks for all you do!!”
According to Program Coordinator Bob Robinson, school administrators
and teachers, as well as parents, have long expressed a need for the
service. “Many noted their excitement that something like this is
available to our students.”
Empowering Darke County Youth was formed in March and received its
501c3 designation from the IRS in September. Its first goal was summer
tutoring at the Greenville Library, which resulted in seven tutors
working with 43 students. Planning for the After School Program began
in early August.
“The adults like it,” Robinson said. “But what about the kids? They put
in a full day at school, then come here and have to put in another hour
or more on homework, tutoring or related activities.
“They like it,” he continued, “if only for the snacks and entertainment
when their work is done. The kids arrive with a smile and leave with a
smile. We also have a growing portfolio of happy drawings and notes…
one of them is a heart drawn by a third grader that says ‘I love After
School Program’.”
Empowering Darke County Youth is in need of community support. The
organization seeks volunteers and funding assistance through donations
and help with fundraising activities. Contact for information:
empoweringdarkecountyyouth@gmail.com or Facebook Empowering Darke
County Youth.
A complete list of comments by administrators and Edison students can
be found here. Some of these comments are truly amazing!
Find out more about the Empowering Darke County Youth program here
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Volunteers work to categorize hundreds of books donated by Woodland
Heights Primary
School prior to the arrival of students.
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Edison volunteer Haley Shuttleworth works with Woodland second grade
student Riley Hauck.
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