May 3, 2006 — While in Utah to receive an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Utah on Friday, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Community of Caring, a national character education program now located in the Department of Special Education at the University of Utah, and U President Michael K. Young will visit two Community of Caring Schools. They are Salt Lake City School District’s North Star Elementary and Granite District”s William Penn Elementary. (See times, locations and driving directions below.)

Also accompanying Shriver, a lifelong advocate for children with disabilities, will be a corps of educators-Dean David Sperry, University of Utah College of Education; Salt Lake City School District Superintendent McKell Withers; Granite School District Superintendent Stephen Ronnenkamp; Steven Eidelman, executive director of the Kennedy Foundation; Michael Hardman, chair, Department of Special Education and University of Utah coordinator for the National Center; and Kristin Fink, director, Community of Caring.

Community of Caring is a K-12, whole school, research-based, comprehensive character education program with a unique focus on students with intellectual disabilities. Founded in l982 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the program has been adopted by more than 200 schools in Utah and more than 1,000 schools nationwide and in Canada. In 2004, the Community of Caring national headquarters moved from its longtime location in the offices of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation in Washington, D.C., to the University of Utah’s College of Education, where it is now the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Community of Caring.

Shriver will receive an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Utah on Friday, May 5, at 9 a.m., at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Thursday, May 4

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.:

Salt Lake City School District-North Star Elementary
1545 North Morton Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
Telephone: 801-578-8448

Driving Instructions:

Address Coordinates: 1545 North 1970 West
While driving north on Redwood Road, turn west at about 1470 North from Redwood Road to Independence. After 4 or 5 streets turn right on Morton-there will be a church on the corner-and drive to the school, which is at 1545 North Morton Drive. (1545 North 1970 West.)

11:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.:

Granite School District-William Penn Elementary School
1670 Siggard Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84106
Telephone: 801-646-4960

Driving Instructions:

Address Coordinates: 1670 East 3705 South
Siggard Drive is located right off of Highland Drive between 3300 South and 3900 South, going east off about 3700 South to 1670 East.