Cardinal Community School District was awarded a $37,000 grant for the 2020-2021 school year from the Ottumwa Legacy Foundation earlier this week. This grant will help fund a college an Educational Talent Search career counselor. The added support will allow Cardinal to provide additional support for all students navigating college and career choices.
Indian Hills is funding 50% of this position to help make this support a reality. “These partnerships are another great example of how you can offer more services for children and make the costs work within the budget,” said Cardinal Superintendent Joel Pedersen.
Educational Talent Search (ETS) is a federally funded grant program created in the 1960’s. IHCC is starting year 5 of our ETS program; we write to be refunded every 5 years. ETS serves 500 6th through 12th graders focusing on academic, career, college, and personal needs through individual meetings, group workshops, college visits, and cultural trips. ETS staff help participants with course selection and planning, college entrance exam prep, college admission, financial aid/FAFSA, scholarships, and career exploration.
Dr. Jennifer Wilson, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Indian Hills Community College supervises the ETS grant. She notes, “IHCC is proud to partner with Cardinal to provide all students the guidance to help them prepare for their next step. We are thrilled the Legacy Foundation believes in the importance higher education has on our area economic development, and has chosen to provide financial support to allow Cardinal and IHCC to partner in this capacity to grow opportunities for our area youth”. According to Debbie Boyer, ETS Program Director, “IHCC’s ETS program continually exceeds its benchmarks for the grant. Our program is looking forward to expanding services available to existing ETS participants and increasing the number of those served.”
“The Legacy Foundation has been a longtime strategic partner with Cardinal CSD,” said Pedersen. “Our school is adding several mental health supports in place for the next school year. This grant allows us to add resources sooner and also provide the appropriate therapy on campus.”
“We could not be more thrilled that Cardinal students will have access to these critical resources, stated Kelly Genners, Legacy Foundation President. “We know from the data that the more support students have to determine postsecondary pathways, the more successful they are in attaining the additional skills and education needed to obtain fulfilling and profitable careers long-term.”
