A partnership between South Bend Schools and Ivy Tech Community College is giving high school seniors to walk across the graduation stage with more than just a high school diploma. This program lets students take college course while still in high school and earn an Associate's Degree at no cost to the students or their families.

Going into the construction trades can happen even after earning a college degree. Founder and owner of Niles based company Hard Hats and Heels, Victoria Knight, did it after earning a nursing degree. Now is she not only doing something she loves, but actively working to encourage others to pursue those trades.

Children’s minds are like wet clay, easily moldable. Unfortunately that leads them to also pick up less desirable traits from those around them. Racism isn’t an easy topic to talk to a child about however racism is taught. Just like you can teach a child to be racist, you can also teach them against it. In order for society to function at its best, it has to free itself of prejudices for different races and that means starting the teaching of acceptance and inclusiveness of other races at their most vulnerable mind state.

Adaptation may be the word of the year, and for those going on. At this point it is something that we all have to learn how to do. Ivy Tech Community College for example is adapting its ways of reaching its students not only for the summer but also during uncertainty. Online based classes are the new norm and they want to make sure that everyone has a chance at an education, because uncertainty in the world shouldn’t stop us from wanting to make a difference.

When the Potawatomi Zoo had to close to observe social distancing, they made sure people were still able to see them as a place of learning. They were able to move their classes to online versions making sure the fun with animals didn't have to stop.

Necessity often leads to innovation. Schools closing for the rest of the academic year led many teachers to find ways to make their lessons not only fun, but engaging. We explore how a Wawasee Schools music teacher used what he had to keep the music playing.

The Nile’s STEAM Room isn’t what you think it is. It’s name is actually an acronym for what it stands for: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Manufacturing. It was created in 2019 to work as an incubator for the local creatives' artistic endeavors and a center for learning. It is a place for learning for home schoolers and all students. Community members share knowledge and students are able to take classes to learn new skills.

As we all know education is a necessity to our society, and with pandemic keeping us all quarantined at home, our motivation has not been at its full capacity. However Manchester University is offering a unique incentive to 2020 high school graduates, that have applied to their school. The university is offering eligible incoming freshmen four years of tuition free schooling. This is their way of showing that they care for their students. With that in mind they also want existing students to know that they are being looked out for as well and are allocating monies to help ease their financial worries too!

When choir teacher Tricia Witmer, was faced with eager questions around the schools yearly spring concerts, she knew then that the show must go on. She then came up with the idea to host virtual choir concerts for students at Menominee and Webster elementary schools. With the help of parents, she was then able to capture and create a collage of videos highlighting all participating students, as they sang and danced, virtually. In uncertain times, creativity is the only way, to keep things moving forward.

Startup Moxie was put in place to help talented high school students, further diversify themselves by learning the art of entrepreneurship. Many students go on to create foundations, and companies that can benefit others in the community. The program provides students with mentors, valuable networks, the opportunity to cultivate their professional self before stepping onto a college campus. It also helps them develop other strong character traits that could help them on the road to success. This program includes all high schools in St. Joseph County, however only a select few are chosen to participate in such a program.

For years, the Plymouth Public Library has offered a program known as Homeschool at the Library. Students who were homeschooled were able to come in to the library and learn about different subjects they may not get normally. But just like other schools that were closed, this program had to adapt to an all digital format.

There are many different ways teachers can reach their students even when they're not in class. At Lakeland Schools in LaGrange, teachers were taught how to use a learning portal known as Seesaw. We take a look at how it works and brings the classroom community closer together.