Grace College representatives and Warsaw Community High School Principal Troy Akers prepare to welcome students to the first ramen day event. Photo provided by Grace College.

News Release

WINONA LAKE — Warsaw Community High School and Grace College have partnered for a series of events in an effort to inspire hundreds of high school students in their pursuit of higher education.

Over four consecutive Thursdays in February, a team of Grace College staff and students are serving ramen to around 90 Warsaw Community High School juniors and seniors over their lunch period. The aim is to create an environment for high school students to eat, play games and explore their higher education options with Grace students.

“This is a different format to effectively reach our students and get them thinking about what the next two to four years of their lives might look like,” said Troy Akers, principal of Warsaw Community High School. “We want to open their minds to opportunities in the local community that they may not have considered otherwise.”

The events help to implement Warsaw High School’s and Indiana’s overall initiatives to increase college enrollment and graduate success. The program’s initiatives include increasing preadmission letters, expanding college credit programs through Indiana College Core and providing time for high schoolers to interact with college representatives.

“This is a unique opportunity to engage with students in a genuine and natural way,” said Matt Metzger, chief marketing officer at Grace College. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between our students here at Grace and those at Warsaw High School.”

Max Boruvka, a second-year student at Grace, helped serve ramen at the event. Boruvka also answered high schoolers’ questions about life after high school and shared his perspective on the college experience.

“It’s a great way to show students we care by listening to their stories and answering their questions,” said Boruvka. “It shows that college is about academics, but it’s also about finding a community of people who care about you.”

The final ramen event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 22. Warsaw Community High School students interested in attending may sign up by visiting Warsaw High School’s Career Connections office.

To learn more about Grace College, visit grace.edu.