By SUMMER ZIMMER
Director of Communications and Social Responsibility, Kosciusko Community YMCA

WARSAW — For the youngest students in Kosciusko County, college will be something they no longer have to just imagine — it will be a place they have visited and seen for themselves. On Sept. 25 and Oct. 2, every kindergarten through second grade student in Kosciusko County will visit Ivy Tech for a day full of activities and fun. Students will celebrate the efforts they have been making to “Walk Into My Future.”

Hours for the event will be: 9:15-10:45 a.m., 11 a.m. to noon, 12:45-2 p.m. for Sept. 25; and 9:45-11:15 a.m. and 12:30-2 p.m. Oct. 2.

Through the Kosciusko County Promise, all parents of students in grades K-2 had an opportunity to enroll their child in a CollegeChoice529 at school registration. Enrollment in the Promise makes it easy for families to establish a college savings account and support savings for their child’s education beyond high school. Enrollment will continue online for several weeks.

The “Walk Into My Future” event will be the culmination of a month-long awareness push and classroom activities for students.

Each of the activities that are part of the Kosciusko County Promise will inspire hope for the future in the lives of our youth. “The Kosciusko County Promise program can impact the lives and futures of nearly 3,000 K-2 children in our community,” says Chad Zaucha, CEO, Kosciusko Community YMCA. “Students who have their own college savings account are seven times more likely to attend college. However, this project is not just about saving for post-secondary education. This project is about inspiring our children, investing in the future of our community and ensuring that we are building a foundation where everyone believes they can achieve.”

“The Kosciusko County Promise initiative’s long-term strategy to stimulate the economic engine of our county by building a college-going community culture and providing hope for youth and families to be able to access and afford college is certainly one that aligns well with our own mission,” says Dr. Seelpa Keshvala, President, Ivy Tech Community College – Warsaw Campus. “Therefore, we are delighted to partner on this important initiative and look forward to hosting the ‘Walk Into My Future’ event here on the Ivy Tech-Warsaw Campus. We are excited to be able to provide an engaging experience for the K-2 children in our community.”

To learn more about the Kosciusko County Promise or discuss how you can get involved, contact Pam Price at (574) 269-9622 or [email protected].