Verhagen Family Helps Bring Robotics Program and Tutoring to NJ-SP Schools

Posted on August 28, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

North Judson-San Pierre School board members were recently informed that a robotics program and tutoring will be available to students this year thanks to support from the Verhagen Family Fund through the Starke County Community Foundation.

Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin said that two tutors are already prepared to start helping students at the Elementary School and a schedule has been set up for those who have expressed interest. She added that while no interest has been shown at the higher grade levels yet, a tutor will be ready when those requests start coming in.

In addition to funding those tutoring positions, Zupin said the Verhagens have provided financial assistance to start a robotics program for middle school students.

She told members, “Part of the Verhagen money was going to be used to sponsor a robotics team to help foster science and mathematics excitement and interest. That grant pays for the kit, it’s about $300 worth of robotics equipment and supplies. It also allows us to compete in a competition at the state level.” 

Zupin added that High School Math Teacher Bob Eberhardt will be the sponsor for this program and will hold a call-out in September.

In a previous meeting, it was revealed that the Verhagen Family Fund that was created in memory of Dr. Roger C. Verhagen by his children Kirt, Chris, and Amy.

They also established the ‘Our Kids Excel Fund’ as a way to give residents a chance to invest in the community’s future through NJ-SP students.

If you would like to help make it possible to give grants to programs that assist NJ-SP students, you can provide a monetary contribution by visiting nicf.org, clicking the donate button, and then selecting the Our Kids Excel Fund option when you’re asked to “Designate Your Gift”.

You can also mail and make checks out to the Northern Indiana Community Foundation (NICF) at PO Box 807, Rochester, IN 46975. Be sure to include ‘Our Kids Excel’ in the memo line of the check.

If you have any questions, give the Starke County Community Foundation a call at 574-772-3665.