When the facility that housed the Appleton Head Start program in Pope County was lost to fire in mid-August, a group of Arkansas Tech University early childhood education students and professors saw an opportunity to make a difference in their chosen field and their chosen community.
On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Arkansas Tech delegation traveled to Hector Elementary School to deliver science, outdoor recreation and art equipment as well as other supplies needed by the displaced preschoolers and their teachers.
“I think this is awesome because if we were actually teachers at the school and that happened to us, we would want and need people from the community to donate items,” said Ashley Haney, a junior at Arkansas Tech and early childhood education major from Pine Bluff. “They are going through a hard time. We were excited to buy and donate these things. No one hesitated. Everybody signed up and we were able to get all of the items on the list.”
The project was carried out through classes taught by Arkansas Tech faculty members Dr. Timothy Leggett and Dr. Jackie Paxton as part of the National Education Association Student Program.
“It really makes me feel honored that they have the same passion for children that we do,” said April Wilkinson, center director and family service coordinator for Appleton Head Start. “It goes to show that they are in the correct field.”
The students from Appleton Head Start expressed their appreciation to the Arkansas Tech students by presenting them with homemade thank you cards.
