Dwane L. Wallace Youth Venture Grant

2026 RECIPIENTS

United Way of the Plains has invested $75,000 in 25 programs across six school districts in south central Kansas through the Dwane Wallace Youth Venture Grant program. All schools listed are part of USD 259 Wichita Public Schools unless otherwise noted. 

• 8th Grade MVPs Program, Curtis Middle School – $3,630: The 8th Grade MVPs program recognizes and rewards students for demonstrating positive behaviors, academic engagement, and personal responsibility. Through enrichment experiences and positive incentives, the program helps students build the habits, character, and mindset needed for long-term success in high school and beyond.
• Afterschool Tutoring and Mentoring, Anderson Elementary School – $4,000: This program provides targeted afterschool literacy tutoring and mentoring for kindergarten through fifth grade students to strengthen foundational reading skills, build confidence, and close achievement gaps.
• Bulldogs Beyond, Leonard C. Seal Elementary School, USD 396 Douglass Public Schools – $3,705: Bulldogs Beyond is an afterschool program that serves elementary students through homework assistance, enrichment activities, physical activity, and positive adult mentorship. The program supports students’ academic, social, and emotional development while also meeting the needs of working families.
• Community Schools Family Literacy Labs, USD 259 Wichita Public Schools – $3,456: The Community Schools Family Literacy Lab supports pre-kindergarten through third grade students and their families through afterschool literacy instruction and family engagement activities. The program strengthens foundational reading skills through student learning, caregiver support, and guided reading experiences while providing resources and meals that help remove barriers to participation and academic success.
• Community Service/Circle of Friends, Truesdell Middle School – $4,534: The Community Service/Circle of Friends program provides students with opportunities to build inclusive relationships, develop leadership skills, and engage in meaningful service experiences. Through peer connections, community projects, and acts of service, students strengthen empathy, communication, and civic responsibility while fostering a more connected school community.
• Cosmetology Salon, Marshall Middle School – $6,000: The Student-Run Cosmetology Salon provides middle school students with hands-on cosmetology education in a real-world salon environment. The program builds technical, creative, and workplace skills while introducing career exploration and fostering confidence, responsibility, and professionalism.
• Digital Design Program, Robinson Middle School – $5,500: The Robinson Middle School Digital Design Program provides middle school students with hands-on opportunities to develop creative, technical, and entrepreneurial skills through digital media projects. Students learn graphic design, marketing, production, and problem-solving skills while building confidence, teamwork, and career readiness through authentic, project-based learning experiences.
• Dragon Summer Discovery Destination, Belle Plaine Elementary School, USD 357 Belle Plaine Public Schools – $5,250: Dragon Summer Discovery Destination provides engaging summer learning opportunities that combine targeted academic support with hands-on enrichment for elementary students. The program helps prevent summer learning loss while building confidence, fostering curiosity, and strengthening students’ academic, social, and personal growth through meaningful connections with their school, families, and community.
• Drumline, Mueller Elementary School – $2,370: The Mueller Elementary Drumline provides third through fifth grade students with an opportunity to develop musical skills, confidence, teamwork, and perseverance through percussion education and performance. The program creates an inclusive, supportive environment where students build belonging, responsibility, and leadership skills while celebrating their growth through music.
• Flight Club, Robinson Middle School – $1,860: The Flight Club provides middle school students with hands-on opportunities to explore aviation concepts, aerospace careers, and STEM learning through interactive labs, guest speakers, model rocket projects, and industry experiences. The program builds curiosity, problem-solving skills, and career awareness while connecting students to real-world opportunities in aviation and aerospace.
• Food Pantry, Anderson Elementary School – $1,500: The Anderson Elementary Community Food Pantry provides consistent, dignified access to nutritious food for students and families experiencing food insecurity. The pantry helps reduce barriers to learning by supporting family stability, strengthening community partnerships, and ensuring students have the resources they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
• Food Systems and Leadership Program, Creative Minds Academy – $5,000: The Creative Minds Student Food Systems & Leadership Program empowers students to develop leadership,
  responsibility, and entrepreneurial skills through hands-on experiences in sustainable food production. By caring for a school poultry system and garden, students build character, strengthen teamwork, and gain a deeper understanding of nutrition, healthy living, and community stewardship.
• Leadership Club, Stanley Elementary School – $3,000: The Stanley Elementary Leadership Club provides 4th–5th grade students with hands-on, student-led service-learning experiences that build leadership, responsibility, and civic engagement. Through community projects, partnerships, and real-world problem-solving, students develop confidence and the skills needed to positively impact their school and community.
• Lighthouse & Culinary Wellness Initiative, Medicine Lodge High School, USD 254 Medicine Lodge Public Schools – $4,200: The Student-Led Culinary Wellness Initiative provides high school students with access to fresh, nutritious snacks and beverages while building leadership, culinary, and entrepreneurship skills. Led by Leadership and Culinary students, the program removes barriers to healthy food choices, promotes wellness, and empowers students to develop lifelong healthy habits.
• Literacy Intervention Program (Graphic Novels), USD 259 Wichita Public Schools – $4,200: The Literacy Intervention Program supports 9th grade students who are behind in reading through high-interest, accessible books and targeted reading practice. By increasing student engagement with reading materials that build fluency and comprehension, the program helps strengthen literacy skills, improve academic success, and support long-term college and career readiness.
• Parents as Teachers, Maize Early Childhood Center, USD 266 Maize Public Schools – $3,370: The Maize Early Childhood Center Social-Emotional Learning Program equips preschool students and their families with tools to build emotional regulation skills at school and at home. Grant funding will provide take-home calming kits and family education to reinforce social-emotional learning, strengthen parent engagement, and support children’s healthy emotional development.
• Speech and Debate Program, Wichita East High School – $3,000: The Wichita East Speech & Debate Program provides high school students with opportunities to develop communication, critical thinking, leadership, and advocacy skills through competitive speaking, debate, and service experiences. The program fosters confidence, belonging, and college and career readiness while empowering students to find their voice and engage with their school and community.
• STEALTH Afterschool Programs, USD 259 Wichita Public Schools – $4,800: The STEALTH Afterschool Program provides a safe, engaging environment across several schools where students explore new interests, develop life skills, and build positive relationships through hands-on enrichment activities. Funding will support healthy cooking lessons that teach nutrition, basic cooking skills, and simple, affordable recipes students can recreate at home.
• YELL (Youth Empowered by Life Lessons), IXL Elementary School, USD 470 Ark City Public Schools – $5,625: YELL equips fifth-grade students with the practical tools, life knowledge, and supportive relationships needed to thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and personally. By addressing nonacademic barriers and promoting equity, YELL inspires students to become confident leaders, responsible citizens, and caring members of their communities.