The Wachovia Foundation donated $174,000 to the Meadows School of the Arts and Meadows Museum to budget “Imagine U @ SMU,” a program bringing middle-schoolers from disadvantaged backgrounds to SMU to participate in an interactive campus arts experience.

“Imagine U @ SMU” is a program designed to help the children, known as Imagine U @ SMU Scholars, to think creatively and develop interest in collegiate arts.

“The Wachovia Foundation’s generous gift will create opportunities for learning and enrichment that might not have been possible otherwise,” Meadows Dean José Bowen said. “The entire SMU community is excited about this program and its potential for helping us engage with students from disadvantaged backgrounds. We hope this program will inspire young people to broaden their creative horizons and pursue educational opportunities.”

The program encourages students, faculty and staff to interact with the Imagine U @ SMU Scholars, an opportunity that will enhance not only the lives of middle school students, but Mustangs as well.

“We have a reputation of being a really wealthy school, so I think it’s a good thing we’re helping out,” junior advertising major Jamie Shapiro said.

Each semester approximately 100 students from around the Dallas area will make use of three 3-hour visits to SMU. The school will be working in conjunction with Big Thought, a non-profit organization that reaches out to students by providing educational programs that inspire and unite children and communities through civic partnerships.

“This program is another wonderful example of our collaborative partnership with SMU,” President and CEO of Big Thought Gigi Antoni said. “This gift from the Wachovia Foundation provides for even more Dallas students to engage more deeply in the arts and to share in creative learning experiences.”