Gala raises $53,000 for scholarship and literacy initiatives on campus

The gala provided an opportunity to honor working students and to show appreciation to the donor organizations and individuals that contribute to the university’s scholarship and literacy programs. Chancellor Bruce Bergland (center), Garrett Cope, outreach coordinator in the Division of Continuing Studies, and his wife, Barbara Cope, former vice chancellor of academic affairs, take in the festivities at the 17th annual gala.

This year, a new scholarship was created in the memory of former professor and administrator Silas W. “Bill” May. Since education and literacy are strongly linked, this year’s gala theme was “Born to Read, Bound to Succeed.”

The Literacy Initiative is designed to raise awareness of the value of early intervention, and provide programs and resources to parents and children from birth to six years of age. It is also the research and service project of IU Northwest’s “Shared Vision” and offers literacy education, materials and workshops to local parents and caregivers to enrich family efforts and prepare children for the opportunities that reading will bring.

The gala also provided an opportunity to honor and recognize some of northwest Indiana’s brightest and hardest working students, and also to show appreciation to the donor organizations and individuals who contribute to the university’s scholarship programs.

Then IU President Myles Brand attended the event and commented on his satisfaction with the turnout.