The Robinson Community Learning Center has reached the age of reason -- seven -- Mayor Stephen Luecke observed at the institution's annual celebration that included a big present.

U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Granger, presented the center with a $282,000 check to support its Robinson Enterprises, a training, entrepreneurship and business promotion program.

Center director Jay Caponigro said the money means that participants now working on their business plans will be able to take the next step of actually operating their businesses.

"We have about 25 youth from our class working now to finalize their business plan," he said. "This will move them from business plan to actual working business."

Donnelly recalled shopping in the one-time grocery on North Eddy Street that the University of Notre Dame transformed into the learning center in 2001. Robinson has a computer teaching and learning center with 20 computers.

Programs include violence prevention, health education and screenings, GED, English as a second language, children's programming, youth tutoring and after-school programs.

About 500 residents and volunteers and 250 Notre Dame students, faculty and staff work with the programs. Ceremonies on Friday honored workers and students:

# Ed and Irene Cour won the Mrs. Renelda Robinson Award for dedicated community volunteers. The couple serve with quiet, back-office support, including setting up food and making cakes for the community picnic.

# Michael Ball won the Mr. Arthur Quigley Award for Notre Dame faculty or staff. Ball, who is co-chair of the center's advisory board, was on the original committee that helped establish the organization seven years ago.

He has helped make technology training more accessible to youth and adults, once ordering the replacement of large computer screens so workers in the room would have more opportunities to interact with each other.

# Indonesia Holt won the Mr. James A. Roemer Award for a youth participant who excels in the center's tutoring program. Indonesia, 8, a second-grader at Kennedy Primary Academy, urges peers to work harder.

# Cassidy Blair won the Rev. Don McNeill CSC Award for a Notre Dame student volunteer.

"I did the Take Ten last year, and I started working with the tutoring program this year," said Blair, a sophomore from Illinois. "I really like the kids. It's just good to see them learn. They're so amazing."

# Amina Hindi won the Dr. Dale Grayson Award for an adult participant in the center's educational programs. Hindi, who also worked with the South Bend Schools' ESL program, has gained sufficient computer mastery to burn CDs, book international travel online and create her own Web page.

# Kevin McNulty won the Youth Justice Project Award for a community volunteer who exemplifies the principles of restorative justice among youth offenders and victims of crime. Part of his work involves helping youths tell their own story with digital video photography.

The John Adams High School Jazz Band entertained at a reception.

The Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame's president, said the Robinson Community Learning Center's work will continue to expand.

"This has been a great seven years, but not as good as the next seven years will be," he said.