265 Jay County 7th Graders Attend Walk Into My Future Event

On Thursday, April 4, 265 middle school students from neighboring Jay County toured the Taylor University campus and took part in programming designed to introduce them to life after high school. The Education Department hosted the annual Walk Into My Future event, which was a partnership with The Portland Foundation and academic departments across campus.

“The focus of the day is to get students thinking about their futures and seeing college as an option in that future,” said Dr. Shelly Engle, Director of Teacher Education and Assistant Professor of Education. “Like many counties in Indiana, Jay County doesn’t have a high percentage of students who go on to attend college. We want to get students thinking that college is approachable for everyone.”

The Jay County students participated in learning stations provided by the Computer Science, English, Art, Music, Engineering, Kinesiology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science departments. They ate lunch at the Hodson Dining Commons, and wrapped up the day with a program hosted by The Portland Foundation of Jay County and Jay County schools.

In addition to teaching some of the learning stations, Taylor Education students led groups of the seventh grade students around campus to various stations, serving as guides and mentors throughout the day.

“We hope that these young students will see that college is an option for them all,” said Engle. “We want them to start thinking about their futures, begin to plan even in middle school, and walk into that future wholeheartedly embracing the opportunities that are before them.”