Project ASPIREE students celebrate a year of success and transformative opportunities at VU

January 5, 2024

VINCENNES, Ind. - 2023 stands out as an outstanding year marked by unique experiences, thrilling accomplishments, and memorable camaraderie for Vincennes University Project ASPIREE high school and middle school students.

With their shared passion for excellence, students immerse themselves in transformative experiences, engaging in various activities that provide them with valuable insights into diverse career paths and opportunities. Project ASPIREE (Achieving Success through Participation in Reaching Educational Excellence) is a FREE program for students from income-eligible backgrounds or potential first-generation students.

Project ASPIREE students from North Central at Farmersburg, Dugger Union, Washington Catholic, North Daviess, Barr-Reeve, Loogootee, and Shoals enjoyed a plethora of extraordinary events and experiences on the Vincennes Campus in 2023, ranging from campus tours to interacting with state-of-the-art robots to sitting in a Camaro pace car to hanging out at the Aquatic Center. Students also explored health careers in the College of Health Sciences and Human Performance plus College of Technology careers, including Surveying.

Middle school and high school students in Daviess, Martin, and Sullivan counties are encouraged to apply for Project ASPIREE. It is free for students, parents, and participating schools.

“This free program doesn’t just cultivate students, it nurtures future leaders and innovators,” Project ASPIREE Director Kimberly Fields said. “Project ASPIREE underscores the importance of empowering students with knowledge, skills, and a shared commitment to excellence, ensuring they embark on journeys of success that transcend the classroom.”

Project ASPIREE, a Talent Search Grant, is a TRIO program 100 percent federally funded and supported by the Department of Education. The program offers students ACT/SAT waivers, SAT/ACT prep, test registration assistance, college application fee waivers, assistance with filling out college applications, cultural and educational field trips, general financial literacy, college and career exploration, campus visits, academic advising/course selection, scholarship and financial aid information, guidance in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), tutoring, personal counseling, and help with goal setting, study skills, time management, and organization. Workshops are also offered to students and their families.

For more information, visit vinu.edu/web/project-aspiree or email aspiree@vinu.edu or call 812-888-5063.

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