HU to host 1,350 students for second “Walk Into My Future” event

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, Huntington University will host 1,350 elementary school-aged students from Noble County who are participating in the Walk into My Future event sponsored by the Noble County Promise. This is the second year the University has taken part in the event.

“The event is a great community event showcasing the beauty of campus and the outstanding people who work here,” said Nate Perry, assistant vice president of enrollment. “While the college years might be a few years away for these students, our hope is that they realize their future potential. Our world needs these students to make a difference and we get to play a small part in helping them realize that and their dreams.”  

Visiting students aging from kindergarten to third grade will have the opportunity to experience a college campus through hands-on, interactive stations where they can learn from a variety of departments about college majors and life on campus.

Faculty from the following departments will host students at 31 interactive stations throughout the day: agriculture, Bible and religion, biology, business, chemistry, digital media arts, education, exercise science, history, mathematics, ministry & missions, nursing, psychology, social work, sociology, theatre and visual arts. Huntington University students also will assist at the stations.

Some of the station topics include “Dr. Evan’s Dinosaur Show,” “Meet Ben Franklin,” and “I Can Speak Cantonese.” Stations are located in Loew-Brenn Hall, the Merillat Centre for the Arts and the RichLyn Library as well as outdoors in front of Becker Hall, the Dowden Science Hall, Habecker Dining Commons, Loew-Brenn Hall, the Merillat Centre for the Arts, and the Merillat Complex.

“We believe that for many students the idea of college is very abstract,” said Lisa Walter, business manager for the Cole Center Family YMCA and Noble County Promise coordinator. “Giving students an opportunity to actually step on a college campus can give them a visual and something that they can reach for as they think and dream for their future. We want to create an opportunity that excites students and shows them that we as a community believe in them. We believe that this event creates a memory for children and it gives them something to reach for.”

Walk into My Future is an initiative of the Noble County Promise, a collaborative of businesses, youth-serving organizations, and regional and state partners committed to creating a county-wide college-going culture. Launched in Wabash County in 2013, Noble County is among the first group of counties that have been added to the Promise. The Promise collaborative hosts events and activities in the classroom and in the community, culminating with a day on a college campus also in conjunction with College GO! Week and College Savings Month. College GO! Week is sponsored by Learn More Indiana for the purpose of providing resources to high-school students to plan for college and other forms of post-secondary education. College Savings Month is a national campaign promoting participation in 529 college savings plans.