Professor gets John Templeton Foundation grant to study effect of after-school activities

Sandra Simpkins, UCI professor of education, has been awarded a John Templeton Foundation grant to study how organized after-school activities support character virtue development from childhood through young adulthood. “Little research exists on the issue of the kinds of experiences needed to help keep youth on a virtuous path,” Simpkins said. “Our findings will describe which after-school activities are most impactful in developing character virtues and build the field’s knowledge, influence best practices and help train the next generation of young scholars.” Jacquelynne Eccles, Distinguished Professor of education, and Deborah Vandell, professor of education, are co-principal investigators on the study. The John Templeton Foundation supports research on subjects ranging from complexity, evolution and emergence to creativity, forgiveness and free will.