etkachuc, Author at Horizons

Author Archive

Horizons Giving Day – May 12th!

Posted on: April 29th, 2016 by etkachuc No Comments

On May 12th, Horizons at the University of Mississippi is taking part in the 2nd Annual Horizons Giving Day, an online fundraising competition hosted by Horizons National. With Advanced Giving beginning May 1st, Horizons Giving Day gathers Horizons sites from around the country in competition for prizes including the most funds raised, the most unique donors, and the largest use of social media. The best part: all funds raised locally, stay local.

This event will help raise crucial funds to support the ongoing expansion of Horizons at the University of Mississippi. “This is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the impact that our program has on students in our community, and raise some money in the process,” says Emma Tkachuck, McLean Institute Project Manager and Horizons Director. “This year’s goal is to raise $10,000 through Horizons Giving Day – funds that will directly support summer programming including meals, teaching staff, and supplies.” Horizons has a powerful mission and provides exciting summer learning and enrichment opportunities to students at-risk of falling behind during the summer months. Horizons Giving Day serves as a fun avenue to share that story, with a leader board showing real time fundraising and social media tracking. To follow the Horizon Giving Day activities, like or follow Horizons at the University of Mississippi on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Horizons is encouraging everyone to engage on social media using #HorizonsGivingDay and mentioning @HorizonsUM.

You can learn more about supporting Horizons Giving Day on the Horizons at the University of Mississippi donation page HERE.

Horizons Students Return for a Physics Saturday on Campus

Posted on: November 16th, 2015 by etkachuc No Comments

Horizons first and second graders returned to campus for a wonderful Saturday of Physics demonstrations with Professor Jamerson, and fun outdoor activities! Our students learned exciting examples of Physics in action with hands on experiments around the Laws of Conservation. Horizons Intern Natalie Pappas shared in the students’ enthusiasm, “It was inspiring to watch the students’ excitement as Professor Jamerson popped balloons with lasers and created a bicycle wheel gyroscope!” Later, our students enjoyed the beautiful afternoon in The Grove playing football, practicing yoga, and playing games.

Horizons Rising 4th Graders Learn Photography Over the Summer

Posted on: August 13th, 2015 by etkachuc No Comments

With help from the Oxford Chamber of Commerce and the Leadership Lafayette program, Horizons purchased digital cameras for this summer’s rising 4th grade class and arranged for talented local photographers to teach them various composition skills. The program incorporated reading and literacy, including digital literacy, while allowing students to document their summer creatively and uniquely through photographs. Each week the students learned valuable photography concepts and techniques and practiced making photographs with the guidance of experienced professionals. Horizons looks forward to using this summer’s model to share photography with next summer’s rising 4th grade class!

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/135589389[/vimeo]

Thank you to the sponsors of the project: Caterpillar, the Lafayette Oxford Foundation for Tomorrow, the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, FNB of Oxford, Tannehill, Carmean & McKenzie, NetVoice Inc., Allen Samuels, Titanium Staffing, Deal’s Express, Campbell Solutions, Ramsey Construction, and Frame-Up/Basement Gallery.

And a special thanks to the photographers that shared their time and expertise with our students: Brooke White, Danny Klimetz, Milly West, Joe Worthem, Micah Ginn, Will Jacks, Jenner Jordan, and Ann Marie Fox.

Horizons Saturday at the UM Museum!

Posted on: April 20th, 2015 by etkachuc No Comments

On Saturday, April 11^th, Horizons students and families visited the University of Mississippi Museum for a morning of basket making, reading and craft activities, and museum tours. Horizons students go to the UM Museum weekly throughout the summer, so the event gave students the opportunity to show their parents a little of what they do during their six-weeks on campus. Students and parents were excited to see Horizons staff and volunteers and the day energized everyone for the upcoming summer!

Special thanks to the staff at the UM Museum for hosting the event and leading the tours and art activities!

Holiday Giving Benefits Horizons

Posted on: January 7th, 2015 by etkachuc No Comments

Thanks to the United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County and Volunteer Oxford for coordinating the Holiday Wish List and #GivingTuesday donations in LOU! Horizons has received generous supply donations that will help support our summer activities. Supplies from pencils to sidewalk chalk to yoga mats and water bottles contribute greatly to the Horizons program and allow us to provide an educational, fun, and unique summer experience to each of the Horizons students.

A special thanks to our #GivingTuesday sponsor, Cannon Motors, for the thoughtful donations of yoga mats, water bottles, board games, notebooks, markers and pencils, scissors, poster board, sidewalk chalk and much more! We are thrilled to have received such generous support.

We are also incredibly thankful to Jennifer Baker and her family for kindly donating math and literacy games, pencils, pens, arts and craft supplies, and storage containers. We can’t wait to use everything this summer!

Horizons is thrilled to have support throughout the LOU community. If you are interested in making an in-kind donation to Horizons, please contact Horizons Director, Emma Tkachuck at etkachuc@olemiss.edu or (662)915-2713.

Horizons Cheers Ole Miss Women’s Basketball to Victory

Posted on: December 19th, 2014 by etkachuc No Comments

Thanks to the University of Mississippi’s Department of Athletics, the Horizons students and their families had the opportunity to cheer on the Ole Miss Women’s Basketball team in their game against University of South Alabama on December 14^th. Horizons students enjoyed waving their pompoms, playing the bongos, and getting pictured on the big screen. Ole Miss finished with a Win and the players took photos with the Horizons students. Horizons is thrilled to be able to partner with the Ole Miss Women’s Basketball team and looks forward to future activities with the players.

Horizons Saturday Round-Up Brings Students to Back to Campus

Posted on: November 14th, 2014 by etkachuc No Comments

Horizons students returned to the University of Mississippi campus for their Horizons Saturday Round-Up in October. The turnout was tremendous with 85% of students attending despite the dreary weather. Students participated in a variety of activities on campus to reacquaint them with the Horizons program and their classmates. The University of Mississippi Museum hosted Horizons for a tour and artwork based on Theora Hamblett’s work using a variety of textures and materials. UM Campus Recreation welcomed Horizons to the Turner Center pool for swim lessons and activities. Oxford Catering Company helped provide delicious and affordable lunches for students.

Horizons invites its students to return each summer until the summer after eighth grade and aims to retain 97% of its students from year to year. To that end, Emma Tkachuck, Horizons Director, sees great benefits to gathering the students on a Saturday during the school year. “It is an excellent reminder of how much our students and staff love the Horizons program, as well as an opportunity to get everyone looking forward to the summer,” shares Tkachuck. Year-round activities are an important effort to keep students coming back each summer.

As the program continues to expand, Horizons is exploring at additional ways to engage students and families throughout the school year. Beginning in December, Horizons plans to partner with Ole Miss Women’s Basketball for mentoring and to have students and families attend a game. Having Horizons activities during the school year helps reintroduce students to traditions from the summer and strengthen the power of the Horizons community.

Horizons Celebrates a Second Successful Summer of Learning

Posted on: November 12th, 2014 by etkachuc No Comments

From June 2nd to July 18th, the Horizons summer learning program brought forty-five kindergarten, first, and second grade students to the University of Mississippi campus. A key initiative of the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement, Horizons at the University of Mississippi aims to eliminate summer learning loss for underserved students, positively impact student perceptions of school and learning, and increase student self-confidence. The six-week, full-day program included reading and literacy instruction, journal writing, and STEM activities. The program also offered exciting enrichment and recreational activities such as art at the UM Museum, mindfulness, yoga, gardening, martial arts, basketball, track, soccer, and swimming. Learning to swim was a highlight of the program, greatly contributing to student self-confidence.

“UM’s Horizons program is transforming lives for both children in the community and University students. For six weeks, school children are afforded an opportunity to learn and play on campus, increasing their cultural capital through enrichment activities. University students are also making a difference in the lives of these school children through their volunteer efforts in the program,” said Dr. Albert Nylander, Director of the McLean Institute.

Partnering with the Oxford School District, Horizons had a certified teacher and an assistant teacher in each classroom, as well as a certified Reading Specialist available for all students. UM’s College Corps and AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates also volunteered in the program, increasing support for students. The low student-to-teaching staff ratio allowed students to receive one-on-one support, providing the opportunity for a greater focus on social and character development.

According to Horizons Director Emma Tkachuck, this summer’s success is due to the highly experienced and enthusiastic teaching staff and volunteers who created a positive, supportive, and exciting learning environment. “It was incredible; they built an environment where students were excited to come learn each day,” says Tkachuck. Students are invited to return each summer and Horizons is making plans for student and family activities throughout the school year to maintain the sense of community and excitement developed over the summer.

Partners for this summer’s Horizons program include: the United Way of Oxford and Lafayette County, the Oxford School District, the UM Departments of Outreach and Student Housing, Aramark, the Turner Center, the Fed Ex Academic Success Center, the Lafayette County Literacy Council, Yokna Bottoms Farm, and the UM Field Station. Horizons will expand each year until it serves kindergarten through grade eight. “We look forward to building on the success of the past two summers and, with the help of our partners, offer students new experiences and opportunities in the years to come,” said Tkachuck. In the meantime, Horizons is celebrating the successes of this summer and wishing their students a successful start to the school year.

UM Women’s Basketball puts Horizons students through drills

Posted on: August 22nd, 2014 by etkachuc No Comments

Horizons students practice basketball skills with UM Women’s Basketball players.

The Ole Miss women’s basketball team opened up the Tuohy Center and put the participants in Ole Miss’ Horizons Summer Learning Program through some drills on Friday (June 27) morning.

The Rebels hosted three groups of students ranging from rising first graders to rising third graders who are participating in the Horizons Summer Learning program through Ole Miss’ McLean Institute. Members of the basketball team, coaching staff and managers put the children through drills focusing on passing, shooting and dribbling.

“Our student-athletes and women’s basketball coaches were all so excited to help with the Horizons Program’s mission of reinforcing and retaining their knowledge over the summer,” said Derek Cowherd, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support. “ It was great to see the first through third graders’ smiling faces while going through the drills. Today’s activity incorporated a bit of healthy competition, teamwork and following instructions; all of which are important in being successful academically.”

The Horizons Summer Learning program in Oxford is in its second year of existence and partners with students from Bramlett and Oxford elementary schools to sponsor a summer learning program. The program, in conjunction with the McLean Institute and Horizons National, battles summer learning loss. Horizons affiliates challenge children academically, social and physically, inspiring them to become life-long learners.

This year, the program has 45 students which includes rising first graders through rising third graders. The six week program partners with the school district and the United Way for funding and features techers from both Bramlett and Oxford elementary schools.

In the first year, the University of Mississippi hosted 30 rising first and second graders for six weeks, offering academic program, swimming lessons, art activities and field trips around campus. Teachers from Bramlett Elementary School with support from University staff and volunteers direct all academic programs offered. This year, the program expanded to include rising third graders and will eventually serve students in first through eighth grade.

The mission of Ole Miss’ Rebel Ready Program is to challenge the student-athletes to be lifelong learners while pursuing continuous improvement academically, relationally, socially, personally, and professionally during and beyond their careers as student-athletes.

Rebel Ready is the hub for a wide range of Ole Miss Athletics sponsored programs designed to meet the needs of student-athletes and their families. It is divided into six areas: Student-Athlete Assistance Services, Career Development, Continuing Education, Community Outreach, Financial Education and Career Transition.

Visit Rebel Ready for more information on Ole Miss’ Rebel Ready program.

Courtesy of Student-Athlete Development and Rebel Ready: http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/rebel-ready/spec-rel/062714aaa.html