Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA member, Stephanie Soward at IU South Bend, is developing and launching an innovative program intended to increase the number of Indiana students pursuing higher education by effectively engaging families in the community. She is working with IU South Bend, K-12 schools, and community partners to identify parents' needs and design program elements that will help educate and support low-income families in the transition from high school to college. In addition to designing the program, Stephanie is working to recruit participants, as well as helping implement and assess a pilot of the program.
Stephanie is passionate about her service project because she understands that obtaining a college education is an important step toward achieving economic and social mobility. However, the percentage of Indiana high school students who attend college is 53%, the lowest rate in a generation. This is 6 percentage points lower than last year and 12 percentage points lower than five years ago. The trends are even more concerning among low-income students and students of color, who saw the largest decrease in college-going rates. In reflecting on the trends in her community, Stephanie stated, “We have an opportunity to reverse this trend and believe doing so involves more effectively supporting families in helping their students plan for the future.”
As a graduate student of IUSB’s Master of Liberal Studies and Strategic Sustainability Leadership program, Stephanie has developed strong practical and transferable skills, which include problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills. The skills she’s gained as a graduate student have been invaluable to her work as a VISTA member and will continue to guide her through the remainder of her service year.
“I bring a rich understanding of both public health and sustainability, incorporating lessons learned from empirical science, as well as indigenous wisdom and nature. I pride myself on being a collaborative facilitator who is able to see big-picture results and systems while driving connections within diverse urban settings. I unite cross-functional teams to deliver holistic approaches to complex problems, challenge the status quo, and leave a lasting impression on growing communities. A multidisciplinary education is priceless when you're working toward change."