Dawn Pleas-Bailey, vice president for student life and special assistant to the president for community engagement at Southwestern College, received the Wichita Public Schools Good Apple award on Monday, Dec. 1, at a board of education ceremony.

The award was given to recognize the tireless work that Pleas-Bailey and Southwestern College have done with Jardine Middle School in Wichita.

Her nomination read: “Dawn is a special friend to Jardine. Her desire to give each student an opportunity to think college has helped to build a partnership that has included mentoring, special activities, visits on campus and a summer STEM camp. She brings lots of love and a passion for learning to every experience.”

Pleas-Bailey was humbled by the award but quick to point out that it was a team effort.

“This award is about the work of the college, not just me,” Pleas-Bailey says.   “It represents lots of people at the college that helped with this work and my boss (Southwestern College President Dick Merriman) who allows me to spread the joy of SC.”

Among several activities the college does with Jardine Middle School is “Builder Bound” camp.  This year, 35 Jardine students attended the camp.  Many of these students are from economically disadvantaged families and would be first generation college attenders. Part of the mission of this camp is to expose these kids to the college experience and let them know that college is an option for them.  For six years, Southwestern has collaborated with USD 259 to provide a similar camp for students at Stuckey Middle School, Truesdell Middle School, and Jardine Middle School.