Horizons at Sacred Heart University has plenty to celebrate. To commemorate its fifth-year anniversary, the Connecticut program will be hosting a series of events throughout the year that will include Horizons students and staff collaborating with SHU students and faculty.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Horizons,” said John J. Petillo, president of SHU. “Horizons has grown so much in five years and has had a huge effect on the children and staff. Our College of Education students provide tutoring, but we learn more than a thing or two from the children as well. We’re looking forward to participating in a number of celebratory events this year. There’s a lot to be proud of.”
The events throughout the year will celebrate the anniversary of the program, but also showcase the students’ talents and growth.
In March, Horizons students will build a community garden on campus with the Bridgeport nonprofit Green Village Initiative. Come April, musicians Bruce Hornsby and the Range will perform at a University gala and fundraiser, where Horizons students will open the show with the SHU choir. In May, Horizons Giving Day will help raise the funds to bring more children into the program.
Throughout the summer, children will participate in a several life-learning events ranging from reading with Dr. Petillo, to step dancing and cooking with SHU’s dining services staff, to conducting research with the school’s marine biology class. The fun-filled summer will conclude with a community night packed with entertaining performances by the children.
In the fall, more educational events are planned, including an instrumental "petting zoo" and a reading-palooza.
According to Jeffrey Rumpf, Executive Director of Horizons at Sacred Heart University, Horizons students typically start attending the program in kindergarten and don’t leave until they graduate from high school. It's a long-term commitment in which children and their families work together as allies. The positive results are seen in the children’s gains in math and reading scores, the program’s high retention rates, and the students’ success in enrichment programs such as martial arts, swimming, and creative arts.
While so much has been accomplished already, Rumpf has some big goals for the years to come, including increasing program enrollment to 200 students and designing a robust middle school and high school program with SHU.
“We want the kids to know they can achieve their dreams and that they’ll be well prepared to be excellent college students. They’ll have the education and the character to do so,” Rumpf said.
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