Students Sound Off A look back at the first year of the Westerville Student Education Foundation By Sophia Fratianne
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he Westerville Education Foundation’s mission is “To enrich the learning experience and broaden the minds of our students through the funding and support of innovative educational programs.” Let’s start at the beginning. Unfortunately, school budgets aren’t limitless, but many teachers’ passions are. To bridge that gap – to provide grants to teachers whose projects aren’t covered under the school budget – the Westerville Education Foundation was born. While the group was an immediate success, it soon realized that many students had ideas that weren't being heard. “Education is about the students, so it is very important to include them and their perspectives in this process,” Executive director of the Westerville Education Foundation. This was a gap even the Westerville Education Foundation wasn’t equipped to bridge. So, the Westerville Student Education Foundation (WSEF) was created. The group began its journey with three local high schools in early 2019: Westerville North, Westerville Central and Westerville South. The group’s mission is to better support the entire student body. Now, a year later, the impressive list of achievements made by the Foundation’s students continues to grow. The WSEF helps the school community tackle issues such as mental health, the environment, inclusion, safety and school curriculum. Topics brought to the school board by the WSEF allow for fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to issues that were only discussed for years. The students have a say and an opportunity to make real change. From student mentorship programs to emergency situation training, the stu22 March/April 2020
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