LOCAL PROGRAMS: Denison, Iowa

The Learners to Leaders™ program in Denison is a partnership that includes Farmland Foods, Inc., the Denison Community School District and Iowa State University's Science Bound program. Through the nonprofit Smithfield-Luter Foundation, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is providing learning opportunities to students who may not otherwise have the chance to attend college due to academic, economic, geographic or social challenges. Participants include first-generation college-bound students, as well as low-income and minority students.

Through Learners to Leaders, 60 to 75 eligible eighth through 12th grade students from the Denison Community School District will participate in the Science Bound program from 2007 to 2012. The program's focus is to equip students during their high school years to successfully pursue science-related college degrees.




To learn more about recent
Learners to Leaders events, click here ».


"This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to gain valuable insights into what it takes to succeed in college, and we applaud the contributions of Smithfield Foods, Farmland Foods and Iowa State."

— Mike Pardun
Superintendent, Denison Community School District


"The alliance between Science Bound and Learners
to Leaders is an excellent example of the kind of productive partnerships involving businesses,
universities and public schools needed to attract,
prepare and enable students to excel in technical
fields. Given the challenges faced by school systems, programs such as this are absolutely critical if we are to maintain our international economic competitiveness."

— Dr. Connie Hargrave
Science Bound Program Director, Iowa State University



AT A GLANCE: Denison, Iowa

  • LAUNCH DATE: 04/24/07

  • PARTNERS: Denison Community School District, Iowa State University, Farmland Foods, Inc., Smithfield Foods, Inc.

  • SMITHFIELD CONTRIBUTION: $296,000

  • PROGRAM DATES: April 2007-May 2012

  • NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 60 to 75
ABOUT FARMLAND FOODS, INC.

Farmland Foods website link Founded in 1959, Farmland Foods is one of Smithfield Foods' independent operating companies. Farmland Foods is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., and has about 6,300 employees at its operations in Crete, Neb.; Denison and Carroll, Iowa; Monmouth, Ill.; Wichita, Kan.; New Riegel, Ohio; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Springfield, Mass. Farmland Foods processes fresh and frozen pork products for national retail and foodservice markets, with a strong concentration in the Midwest. Farmland Foods also serves an international commodity, foodservice and retail market in Asia, Central America and Eastern Europe.

ABOUT DENISON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Denison Community School District understands the importance of providing an education that enables students to think critically, creatively and constructively. Its mission statement pledges to develop well-rounded students who can "...make a living, make a life, and make a difference in an information era."

ABOUT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Iowa State University Science Bound Program website link Iowa State University's Science Bound program has developed a national reputation for increasing the number of diverse students who go to college to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics degrees. Since 1990, Science Bound has been helping students realize their potential and capacity to achieve academic excellence.

Science Bound supports teachers and provides resources as they set high expectations for students; provides students with rigorous course expectations and academic support; and exposes students to science and technology experiences with professional scientists, engineers and technologists.