Indiana University East’s annual Moving On program for area youth will be held from July 22 to 28. Moving On is in its 17th year of providing a one-week summer camp for Richmond youth.

Moving On is part of the IU East Educational Awareness Project (E.A.P.) that targets under-represented and under-prepared students. The program helps the students, grades 7 through 12, overcome the traditional challenges that middle school and high school minority students face when trying to excel in school, said Tim Williams, director of Multicultural Affairs.

This year’s program is sponsored in part by the Housing Authority, Whitewater Broadcasting G101.3 and U.S. Bank. For the second year, Junior Achievement will be a part of the program. “Junior Achievement values its partnership with the IU East Moving On Program. This is a great opportunity for JA to connect with our area youth and to help prepare them for their futures as members of our community,” said Deanna Beaman, JA’s executive director. Michelle Kruse, JA’s operations manager will be presenting activities from the JA Excellence Thru Ethics program. “The activities and topics will focus on making ethical decisions, as individuals and employees. Work ethic, business ethic and personal ethics are all keys to a successful future,” Kruse said.

IU East faculty and staff collaborate with teachers from Richmond Community Schools to design a weeklong program of personal development and academic enrichment. Each year the programming focuses around a basic theme. This year’s theme “R.A.P.P. – Responsibility + Accountability = Potential and Prosperity: Working Through Negative Adversity To Bring About Positive Transformation.” The program will focus on respect, accountability and responsibility.

“We just want our students to learn to be more accountable for their actions,” Williams said.

The program starts with a parent orientation on Sunday and reception followed by a week of activities that touch on such topics as responsibility, humanities and empowerment. An educational field trip includes a tour of the Wayne County Jail and an officer from the drug task force will speak with students. The key note speaker is Philip Wilson. The event will be held in Vivian Auditorium at 1 p.m. July 23.

Throughout the year, the program will continue with educational field trips and workshops which the students will help plan.

The students will be honored during the graduation ceremony to be held on July 27. All students involved in Moving On arrange the ceremony for the night. The event begins at 6 p.m. and is in Vivian Auditorium, located in Whitewater Hall. A small reception for parents will follow in the Community Room.

For more information contact Tim Williams, (765) 973-8320.