2011-2012 Recipients 

We are pleased to announce that after careful review, 10 proposals received funding in the inaugural year of the Seattle University Youth Initiative Fund for Engagement.  A total of $50,000 was available and 33 applications were submitted requesting over $240,000.  The funded proposals represent a range of activities that will significantly advance the goals and strategies of the Youth Initiative.  The following proposals will receive funding during 2011-2012:

Chess Club at Bailey Gatzert Elementary School 
Derik Campos, School of Law
School of Law students will operate a chess program as part of the Seattle University/Seattle Public School Gatzert Elementary School After-School Program.

Garfield High School Social Justice Project College Visit Program 
Charisse Cowan Pitre, College of Education
College of Education faculty and students will partner with Garfield High School teachers to  provide an “early college” experience for Garfield students.

Health Promotion and Education Workshops for Yesler Terrace Families 
Linda Frothinger, College of Nursing
College of Nursing faculty and students will partner with parents and community organizations to offer health promotion and education workshops for neighborhood families.

Citizenship Tutoring Project with Neighborhood House 
Maria Leininger, School of Law
School of Law students will partner with Neighborhood House to provide citizenship classes and tutoring to residents of Yesler Terrace.

Work It Out Seattle 
Jani Medeiros, Albers School of Business and Economics
Albers students, faculty and staff will assist with the construction and development of Work It Out Seattle a new alternative education program.

Summer Robotics Program 
Alvin Moser, College of Science and Engineering
Science and Engineering faculty and students will offer a summer robotics program as a part of the Rotary Boys and Girls Club summer camp.

Integrating Service Learning and Philanthropy into a Community Counseling Course 
Bill O’Connell, College of Education
Counseling students will engage in service-learning with Youth Initiative community partners and participate in an innovative philanthropy project supporting the partners.

Youth Empowerment at the King County Juvenile Detention Facility 
Leo Simpson, Albers School of Business and Economics
Students involved in the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Program will organize workshops on entrepreneurship for youth detained at the King County Juvenile Detention Facility.

After-School Filmmaking Program at Bailey Gatzert School 
Stefan Wanigatunga, College of Arts and Sciences
Undergraduate students will teach elementary students to make short films as part of the Seattle University/Seattle Public School Gatzert Elementary School After-School Program. Stefan continued to teach film-making after school during the fall quarter of 2011, and his work made possible through the Fund will be a featured at a regional conference in April.

Finding Urban Nature Program at Bailey Gatzert School 
Cheryl Wotus, College of Science and Engineering
In partnership with the Seattle Audobon Society, undergraduates will use experiential activities to introduce third and fourth graders from Bailey Gatzert Elementary School to the natural world.

The selection committee included Jeffrey Anderson (Education), Mako Fitts (Sociology), Erica Mullen (East Madison YMCA), Rachael Steward (Center for Service and Community Engagement), and Diana Singleton (School of Law).

The Fund for Engagement represents another important step in the University’s effort to implement the ambitious Youth Initiative that will make a major difference in the lives of hundreds of local children as well as the educational experiences of thousands of Seattle University students.  Please join us in congratulating the 10 recipients of the 2011-2012 Seattle University Youth Initiative Fund for Engagement, and consider applying for academic year 2012-2013.