University of Evansville Receives $500,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Expand Youth Programs on Campus

Evansville, Ind. (06/23/2025) — The University of Evansville (UE) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of Indiana Youth Programs on Campus (IYPC) Round II. This renewed support enables UE to expand its high-impact youth programming, empowering local students to imagine, prepare for, and pursue college and career success from an early age.

This new grant builds on the $1 million UE received during IYPC's inaugural funding round in 2022. Since then, the University has engaged more than 1,214 elementary through high school students in summer camps, school visits, and after-school programming. This includes 630 summer camp participants, 157 school visit attendees, and 427 students served through community-based outreach, including the UE Explorers after-school program, which offers hands-on learning and mentorship opportunities for middle school students. Many of these participants come from underserved neighborhoods and would be first-generation college students, underscoring UE's commitment to equitable access and early engagement.

"This grant from Lilly Endowment enables us to deepen our commitment to young people across Evansville," said Apryl Weatherford, Director of Youth Programs. "We are especially excited to welcome new and returning students to campus for this summer's camps starting in June. Registration is open now, and we can't wait to see students engaging in creative learning, leadership activities, and real college experiences."

UE's youth programs have grown rapidly over the past three years, with participation rising from 118 in 2022 to 295 in 2024. Through hands-on camps in STEM, music, art, and leadership, youth are discovering their passions, building self-confidence, and experiencing college life up close.

With IYPC Round II funding, UE will introduce the reimagined Jr. TASL Scholars Program, a year-round initiative that merges the structure and strengths of the former Springboard summer camp and the UE Explorers after-school program. This combined model includes a three-week summer experience and monthly academic-year sessions. It emphasizes academic support, leadership development, and parent engagement, and serves as a pipeline to UE's existing TASL (Think. Act. Serve. Live.) scholarship program for undergraduate students. The TASL framework is drawn directly from UE's mission statement and reflects the university's commitment to developing thoughtful, courageous, service-minded changemakers.

"UE's youth programming is rooted in our mission to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully in a changing world," said Rob Shelby, PhD, Vice President for Talent and Community and Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer. "This initiative aligns perfectly with our vision for a more inclusive, future-ready Evansville. We're not just preparing students for college, we're building changemakers."

In addition to Jr. TASL, students will benefit from enriched STEM offerings through UE's new IN MaC Design Studio that was developed in partnership with the Toyota USA Foundation, an expanded arts curriculum, and experiential learning through the We Grow Aces! vertical container farm. Parent and child workshops and leadership nights will create shared pathways to success, strengthening family involvement in college planning.

UE's work is in close partnership with the Evansville Promise Neighborhood and Toyota USA Foundation's Driving Possibilities initiative, positioning the University as a hub of opportunity, equity, and innovation for the region.

To learn more about Indiana Youth Programs on Campus, visit lillyendowment.org/iypc.

To register for upcoming summer camps or explore the Jr. TASL Scholars Program, visit evansville.edu/camps.