News Details

November 2024

To Aman and Susan Brar, Rick Crosslin was a science teacher who couldn’t wait to share with students his seemingly endless knowledge about nature.   

“Rick is very joyful and passionate and curious,” said Susan.  “He genuinely loves learning and understanding and knowing, especially related to science topics, of course, and his excitement is contagious.”

Rick retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year from his role as the scientist in residence for the MSD of Wayne Township. During his 48 years of service to the school district, he led a program called Science Summer Safari - a summertime opportunity for students in Wayne to head to the outdoors to study science in a hands-on and often exhilarating way. Both Susan and Aman remember the Science Summer Safari program with great fondness; Aman, in fact, assisted Rick with the program as an older student. 

“Rick seemed to know everything about the natural world and was excited to share all that knowledge with us,” Susan said. “He taught us how to pan for gold, how to catch crawdads, how to find and identify fossils, how to identify plants, how to safely crack open geodes, and so much more. He also has a knack for interacting with children and knowing how to engage them.”

Susan and Aman both graduated from Ben Davis High School in the 1990s, but they’ve never forgotten how Rick’s love for science impacted their learning. To show their gratitude for that impact, Aman and Susan are making a significant gift to help build the Rick Crosslin Endowed Science Fund, through the Wayne Township Education Foundation.

“First and foremost, we wanted to honor Rick’s legacy,” Susan said. “His impact and career are legendary, and that alone is worth celebrating. Second, we understood that the Wayne Township Education Foundation helps subsidize the cost of Science Summer Safari for many students whose families are unable to afford the full cost of the program. We know how impactful a program like that is on students in their formative years, so we wanted to do our part to ensure that programs like that can continue and that kids can participate regardless of their family’s financial status.” 

The Brars’ gift ensures that the first $10,000 donated to the Rick Crosslin Endowed Science Fund will be matched. WTEF Executive Director Lisa Baize said the Brars’ generosity will help the district continue to create stimulating science opportunities for its students.

“Rick’s great enthusiasm, his genuine love for children and teaching, and his creative ability to engage those around him had an immeasurable impact on our school district for decades,” Baize said. “Through the Rick Crosslin Endowed Science Fund we will not only honor a life-changing educator, we will inspire future scientists. We’re incredibly grateful to the Brars for their support of this fund.” 

Any size gift will make an impact. Learn more about the Rick Crosslin Endowed Science Fund here.

ABOUT THE WAYNE TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Wayne Township Education Foundation (WTEF) provides community leadership to enrich, engage, and stimulate teaching and learning in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. WTEF accomplishes this by supporting school programs and resources, while recognizing excellence among students and staff. To learn more about WTEF, call 317-988-7966, visit wtef.wayne.k12.in.us, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @WayneTwpEdFound.