Innovate! is a program that celebrates and empowers students from third grade through high school with afterschool, summer and weekend programs. The program’s focus is to break the cycle of poverty of students in the west Greenville neighborhood one child at a time. Innovate! begins the summer before third grade and continues to support students through high school graduation. Teachers and mentors work to broaden the horizons of children who rarely see beyond their street corner and to equip them with all of the skills they need to achieve their full potential.
“It’s been amazing to watch these students grow academically but also develop confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for our Innovate! Family,” said Lynn Mann, program director at A. J. Whittenberg Elementary and founder of Innovate!
The Innovate! program at A. J. Whittenberg Elementary School of Engineering was one of three finalists for the 2017 Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award of Excellence. The annual award presented by the Riley Institute and South Carolina Future Minds celebrates education initiatives improving the lives of students across South Carolina.
