Each semester, Bobby and his LINK(ED) team are tasked with the challenge of coming up with new opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to give back to the immediate Wichita area. From Feb. 5th to the 16th Link(ED) paired with Wichita West High School and the WSU College of Education seeking donations for common school supplies in the form of spiral notebooks, highlighters, pens, and tri-folds.
Students, faculty, staff, and WSU College of Education departments took this opportunity and ran with it. We knew the initial goals that were set for each item were lofty, but we had faith that each team would respond accordingly because the cause is greater than the goal. Team 1
which consisted of the Dean's Office, CLES, and HPS were responsible for notebooks and highlighters. Team 2 which consisted of Sport Management, C&I, and ESS were responsible for tri-folds and pens. Both teams with similar missions set out to meet their goals during this two week period.
Sometimes we as people take for-granted the things in life that seem to comes easy. When students attend school we don't think that they will struggle just to obtain the most basic school supplies. These are the supplies we think everyone has access too but that is not always the case. Wichita West High expressed the need for these basic supplies. Without notebooks, highlighters, tri-folds, and pens how can we expect students come to school motivated to learn? Bobby Berry, Director of LINK(ED), has a vision that through these donations they can impact Wichita West students on a foundational level. If a student has the ability to attend school knowing his most basic school supply needs have been taken care of it can change his whole outlook on the learning process.
This article is a thank you to all who supported and helped this LINK(ED) initiative. Through your generous donations Wichita West High students now have the ability to learn to solve problems creatively, find new way s of expression, and become designers of their own world. In total the school supply drive will deliver 73 tri-folds, 968 pens, 358 notebooks, and 963 highlighters to Wichita West High on March. 6th. We look forward to the upcoming weeks as we continue to provide opportunities for the Wichita State community to give back.
