Summer enrichment program inspires learning

YOUNGSTOWN — A program that helps students brush up on academics while exposing them to new places and experiences capped its first year in the city by recognizing participants’ achievements and showcasing their talents.

About 75 city school students in third through eighth grade spent six weeks of their summer vacation in the first Inspiring Minds Summer Enrichment Program in Youngstown. The program started in Warren in 2006.

Inspiring Minds, which is free for students through grants and fundraisers, allows students to practice math on computers, swim, play sports, perform yoga, cook and take field trips.

Eryka Walden, 8, a third-grader at Paul C. Bunn Elementary School, says that Inspiring Minds helps people, and she believes the things she learned will help her in school this fall.

“I liked when we went swimming and played football,” Eryka said.

Namarcus Rutledge, 8, also a third-grader at Bunn, liked the activities “like when we built a tower out of marshmallows. Whoever built the tallest tower won a $5 gift card.”

It was fun, he said today.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com