Guardian Scholars, a support service for Ball State University students who have experienced foster care, has been awarded a “Hometown Heroes” grant from Woof Boom Radio and WLBC in Muncie.
The grant will provide Guardian Scholars an investment in WLBC’s resources that represents more than $10,000 of promotional and commercial support—such as on-air promos, website advertising, database marketing, social network advertising, and more—that will be deployed throughout November 2023.
“We are grateful to Woof Boom Radio and to WLBC for recognizing the importance of Guardian Scholars through the Hometown Heroes grant program,” said Ro-Anne Royer Engle, vice president of student affairs at Ball State. “It is Ball State’s mission to provide students with the foundation for a fulfilling career and a meaningful life. Accordingly, through our Guardian Scholars program, the University creates equity and access to higher education for young people exiting foster care in Indiana. We look forward to partnering with WLBC through this grant program to amplify our Guardian Scholars’ voices and to encourage others to share, advocate, and give.”
Ball State’s Guardian Scholars began as a pilot program in 2004 with the support of the Lumina Foundation in Indianapolis. Within Guardian Scholars, students are connected to peers who share similar childhood experiences and a network of trained professionals to support their unique needs on campus.
Every program initiative, policy, and decision is weighed against four Program Pillars in order to keep students first and provide the quality supportive services they deserve: holistic support, growth mindset, self-advocacy, and inclusiveness. Guardian Scholars programming includes coaching meetings; invitations to program events and seminars; program scholarships; personal care kits and packages; Winter Break boxes; school break housing aid; and more.
Guardian Scholars is a voluntary program available to any enrolled Ball State undergraduate student who either had an open foster care case at or above the age of 13, or who experienced foster care at any age and shows current evidence of serious, chronic deficits in familial support.
For more information, visit the Guardian Scholars website, call 765-285-5538, email gscholars@bsu.edu, or drop by the Guardian Scholars’ office in the Multicultural Center, MC 206.
To give online to the Ball State Guardian Scholars program:
- Visit Ball State’s secure online giving form
- Click the drop down, and select the fund “Other”
- Type in the “enter other designation” box: “8006” – Guardian Scholars Program Fund; or “3051” for donations to the Guardian Scholars Achievement Scholarship
- Select the amount of your gift