In the News

Dr. Ridgway Receives Distinguished Hoosier Award

EVSC Honorary Board member Dr. William Ridgway received the Distinguished Hoosier Award from Senator Vaneta Becker at a private reception on February 5, 2010.  Guests dined on delicious appetizers from Kirby’s Dining while celebrating the award with Dr. Ridgway. Guests included fellow Honorary Board members Mel Peterson and Isabella Fine, EVSC Foundation Board of Director members Karen Ellerbrook and Don Chaudoin as well as a host of other friends.

Afternoon Tea with EVSC Foundation

The Community Room at Benjamin Bosse High School was transformed into a beautiful tea room on January 28, 2009. Mrs. Ellerbrook, an EVSC Foundation Board Member, hosted the event to allow friends and acquaintances to listen to Dr. Bertram’s plans for EVSC while relaxing over tea.

The Francis Joseph Reitz Chamber Orchestra with conductor Taylor Criswell entertained guests as they arrived. It was the inaugural performance for the Chamber Orchestra. The guests were clearly impressed with their talent.

All of the guests had a delightful experience. EVSC Foundation is grateful to Bosse High School teachers and staff for all of their help in making the Afternoon Tea a great experience.

     

RICK BORRIES MEMORIAL FUND FOR GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL STUDIES

Honoring Rick Borries personal commitment and passion for educating young people in social studies and government, his family established the Rick Borries Memorial Fund for Government and Social Studies.

Dedicated to helping deserving students participate in programs designed to increase their knowledge of the law, government, and social studies, this memorial will provide funding to assist those EVSC students in traveling to programs such as Close Up and We the People…The Citizen & The Constitution as well as other qualifying programs which require students to travel in and out of the City of Evansville.

To donate to the fund, either click the Donate Now! link above to pay by credit card or send a check made payable to ‘EVSC Foundation’ with Rick Borries Memorial Fund in the memo line to EVSC Foundation, 1 SE Ninth St, Evansville IN 47708.

Vectren Foundation Donates $50,000

The Vectren Foundation has donated $50,000 to EVSC Foundation for the Hall of Fame and for other priority initiatives of the school corporation’s Strategic Plan

Scoreboard Dedication on August 21

Scoreboard Dedication on August 21st

Two of the EVSC’s three new scoreboards will be dedicated at the first home football games in the EVSC Friday, Aug. 21. Reitz High School’s board will be dedicated at approximately 6:50 p.m. and Bosse High School’s scoreboard at Enlow Field will be dedicated at half time. St. Mary’s Medical Center and sponsors who have purchased space on the boards will be recognized during an official ribbon cutting ceremony.  The final scoreboard will be dedicated on Sept. 19 at Central Stadium.

Dr. Bertram Provides Scholarship Funding

At the June 22, 2009 Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Board of School Trustees meeting, Superintendent Dr. Bertram generously redirected his performance-based incentive stipend to EVSC Foundation to provide funding for 10 scholarships of $1,500 for first generation, underserved students in EVSC who work with the Southwest Indiana College Access Network (SICAN).  Dr. Bertram’s desire to help EVSC students and generosity in providing funding for these scholarships is very much appreciated. 

EVSC’s State of Our Schools

EVSC Foundation sponsored the first annual EVSC State of Our Schools breakfast on March 17, 2009. Superintendent Bertram presented EVSC’s progress on the EVSC Strategic Plan with in-depth information on each area.  Over 200 members of the community attended the breakfast presentation. Attendees also received the EVSC Report to the Community. The Report to the Community provides additional information on the school corporation’s progress in the past year. An online version is available at Community Report 2009 

EVSC Foundation extends a special thank you to all of the event sponsors and especially to the firms of VPS Architecture, Buente - Buente Architects, P.C., and Hafer Associates, PC for their generous support of the Report to the Community.

EVSC Foundation Day Celebration

The beautiful riverfront lobby in Vectren was full of people enjoying the live jazz provided by the North High School Jazz Ensemble and the tasty appetizers from Kirby’s Private Dining. A brief program from the EVSC Foundation’s Board of Directors including EVSC School Board Trustee President Sally Becker, Superintendent Dr. Bertram, and EVSC Foundation President Don Chaudoin. In a special moment, Senator Vaneta Becker presented the Distinguished Hoosier Award to James McCarty Sr.

         

James McCarty Sr Receives Award

Mr. McCarty was honored with the Distinguished Hoosier by the Governor in appreciation for his business and philanthropic leadership. Indiana Senator Vaneta Becker presented Mr. McCarty with the award during the celebration.
   

St. Mary’s Medical Center Donates Scoreboards to EVSC Foundation

(Evansville, Indiana) St. Mary’s Medical Center is donating three electronic, digital scoreboards to the EVSC Foundation. The L.E.D. scoreboards, costing $300,000, will be located at Reitz High School, Central High School, and Bosse High School stadiums for sporting events in these venues. 

Students at all area public and parochial schools will benefit from the donation, according to Tim Flesch, the President and CEO at St. Mary’s. “Giving back to the community in which we live and serve is at the core of what we believe at St. Mary’s. It is fundamental to our mission and values. The three football stadiums are utilized by all local public and parochial schools as well as area teams that travel to Evansville for games.  It is a great way to touch the lives of many people of all ages.”

The community benefits when these students continue to engage in healthy lifestyles as adults. “Great athletic programs in the schools help students establish fitness goals and develop commitments to lead heart-healthy lives as adults. We can help change the health status of the community if we support the physical education programs in our schools. St. Mary’s has been, and will continue to be, a vital partner in improving the overall health of our community.”

St. Mary’s offers a variety of programs in partnership with area schools throughout the year.  These programs include:

• On site Mobile Dental Clinic visits – The Dental Clinic staff has treated more than 10,000 patients and performed more than 62,722 procedures since its inception in 2000.
• The bus parks on-site at local schools and agencies to alleviate transportation concerns for patients and make access easier.  The Dental Education team provides education to children and adults in several area counties through health fairs, after school programming, classes during school and on site community programs.
• Camp Nota-Gona-Wheeze- This free week-long day camp is designed specifically for children with asthma.  Hundreds of students have participated in this camp.
• Consultations with school nurses, teachers, children and families to give them the tools to lead healthier lives
• Radical Randy is an asthma teaching doll that shows children how the lungs work.
• Training and education on a variety of topics including CPR, first aid, babysitting and car seat safety.
• Classes on bicycle safety and proper helmet usage
• Health fairs and health education – The classes are taught by registered nurses, registered respiratory therapists and registered dietitians in public and parochial schools.  School staffs have utilized the dietitian’s expertise to do fitness challenges as well as work with school teams to improve their weight status.
• Free back to school physicals on selected dates at St. Mary’s Center for Children
• Professor Popcorn, a Purdue Extension elementary school nutrition education and physical activity program taught to more than 3,400 students, first through fourth grades during the 2007-2008 school year.
• Many St. Mary’s employees sit on multiple health teams working on issues of mental health, alcohol, tobacco and drug addiction, nutrition and physical activity, and are greatly involved in Healthier Evansville - a community health event.

According to Gayle Long, the Executive Director of the EVSC Foundation, this gift from St. Mary’s is very valuable as it presents an opportunity for ongoing funding for the schools.  “There are several areas on the scoreboard for high impact advertising opportunities by community businesses and organizations.  Funding generated by the advertising will help support EVSC programs and activities,” Long added.

The scoreboards were the first major gift for the EVSC Foundation, which was formed by the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation to provide a vehicle for organizations and supporters to help sustain the Strategic Plan core initiatives which support student success.  Community partnerships are an integral part of the corporation’s Strategic Plan, according to Rudy Montejano, EVSC chief of staff.  “The core initiatives of the school district include professional development, technology, early childhood education, innovative school models and family, school and community partnerships, such as the partnership that we have with St. Mary’s,” Montejano said.  “We are very pleased St. Mary’s continues to be a strong corporate leader in the community.”