Horizons at SHU Receives $15K Grant

Funding will provide educational resources to Bridgeport community

Sacred Heart University has received $15,000 from the Wilson Sheehan Foundation for the Horizons at SHU (HSHU) program, which augments educational opportunities for Bridgeport students.

The Wilson Sheehan Foundation has been a long-time supporter of HSHU, and its most recent grant will provide critical academic support and intervention for 168 HSHU students during the school year, as well as high quality educational opportunities next summer.

“The generous contribution the Wilson Sheehan Foundation has made to HSHU will help ensure our students have caring, competent and qualified teachers capable of developing rigorous curricula and programs that prioritize students’ success,” said Ashley Nechaev, executive director of HSHU.

Fairfield County has one of the largest opportunity gaps in the nation resulting in disparities in education, school outcomes and achievement. Horizons at SHU designs its programs to work toward closing this gap.

A dedicated admission committee at HSHU reviews and selects children who are the best fit for the program based on teacher and parent referrals, as well as key criteria regarding household income, reading level and enrollment in a target school. Children who are selected work with HSHU staff on literacy, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics), arts and healthy living. They even learn to swim.

“I am committed to amplifying the voices of parents and Bridgeport community leaders and to collaborating with the board of trustees and our supporters to advance educational equity for Bridgeport students,” Nechaev said.