Purdue News

June 1999 Smiles are the dividends for Purdue economics students WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- An economics course at Purdue University aims to create compassionate future business leaders while helping about 75 at-risk children. Download Photo Here Photo caption below Management students in Professor John Pomery's undergraduate course -- Learning, Culture and Community -- meet each week at three Indianapolis public housing projects to tutor Indianapolis Public School children in grades kindergarten through five, or just to spend time reading and talking together. Their involvement is part of "Project High Hopes," a collaboration between the Purdue School of Management, the Purdue Department of 4-H Youth and the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service office in Marion County. High Hopes brings together Purdue students, community-based site coordinators and high school peer educators to help 20 to 25 elementary students at each of the three public housing sites on the south side of Indianapolis. The Purdue students prepare for their field experience by covering the coursework while they're making the 120-mile round trip between West Lafayette and Indianapolis. "We have topical discussions in the van as we drive to and from our destination," Pomery says. "The topics range from the impact of labeling individuals to the students' reflections on a particular issue or experience at the site." Pomery, who teaches business ethics, says involvement with the children has allowed his students to expand their view of the world. "The experience moves students outside of thinking of things solely as economic issues," he says. "We hope that they learn to recognize potential where it may not be visible on the surface. That can be a very valuable tool for future managers, no matter what area of business they go into." Pomery says the students also learn how the learning process is different for all individuals. "Not everyone learns the same way," he says. "We all have different motivators and different life experiences that affect the way we learn. This project exposes the Purdue students to a world many have never seen before and gives them a better understanding of diversity within a community." Organizers hope to add more tutoring sites next year by increasing the participation of Purdue students and adding students from other schools around the state. Source: John Pomery, (765) 494-4515, pomeryj@mgmt.purdue.edu Writer: Kate Walker, (765) 494-2073, kate_walker@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu PHOTO CAPTION: Amit Jain of Glenrock, N.J., a Purdue junior who is majoring in management, tutors a group of elementary students from the Indianapolis Public Schools. He does the work as part of a Purdue class that meets once a week at three public housing sites in Indianapolis. Color photo, electronic transmission, and Web and ftp download available. Photo ID: Pomery.hihopes Download Photo Here To the Purdue News and Photos Page