THE FOLLOWING IS AN OLD NATIONAL BANK FOUNDATION RELEASE
To fund Illinois drop-out prevention, correctional center education
[DANVILLE, Ill.] (NASDAQ: ONB) – The Old National Bank Foundation in May awarded a $200,000 grant to the Danville Area Community College (DACC) Foundation to fund the ongoing success of the Middle College Dropout Prevention Program, as well as the college’s associate degree courses at the Danville Correctional Center in Illinois.
About the Middle College Dropout Prevention Program
“The goal of Middle College is to provide a pathway to a high school diploma for students who are at risk of dropping out,” said Terry Goodwin, the school’s dean of students. “The success for the program at DACC has been unparalleled in guiding students toward high school completion and beyond.”
DACC’s Middle College partners with regional school districts for high school dropout prevention. It will utilize the grant over a four-year period to boost enrollment and support services for the two programs.
The average household income for Middle College student families is below the poverty level at $20,000 per year. The Middle College program encourages college enrollment for graduates in the program who might not otherwise think of higher education, offering a $1,000 annual scholarship.
The DACC’s Middle College program has enrolled 525 high school students and has an 80% graduation rate over the past 15 years. The Old National grant will help DACC boost Middle College enrollment to nearly 100 students per semester.
About the Danville Correctional Center associate degree courses
At the Danville Correctional Center, the DACC offers general-education courses leading to associate degrees for individuals who are within two years of being released. Graduates can then transfer seamlessly to a bachelor’s program at Eastern Illinois University.
“The Old National grant will help as many as 200 of these individuals earn a college degree and a chance for a better life after they’re released,” Goodwin said.
Earlier this year the DACC correctional classes more than doubled in attendance to nearly 80, while approximately 50 more incarcerated men are on a waiting list.
“The Old National Bank Foundation is proud to invest in an organization like DACC, which works with measurable outcomes to strengthen our community,” said Old National Bank Chief Communications, Culture & Social Responsibility Officer Kathy Schoettlin. “Both the Middle College program and DACC’s educational support for the Department of Corrections are transforming the quality of life for students and for the community as a whole.”
For more information about the Old National Bank Foundation go to oldnational.com/about-us/community.
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Old National Bancorp (NASDAQ: ONB) is the holding company of Old National Bank, which is the sixth largest commercial bank headquartered in the Midwest. With approximately $48 billion of assets and $28 billion of assets under management, Old National ranks among the top 35 banking companies headquartered in the U.S. Tracing our roots to 1834, Old National Bank has focused on community banking by building long-term, highly valued partnerships with clients and in the communities it serves. In addition to providing extensive services in retail and commercial banking, Old National offers comprehensive wealth management, investment, and capital market services. For more information and financial data, please visit Investor Relations at oldnational.com.
