UA Honors Students to Volunteer at Local Elementary School

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Some 50 freshmen in The University of Alabama’s Honors Program, along with 10 student leaders, will come to campus a week early to take part in a community service project at Matthews Elementary School in Northport Aug. 11-15. The program is the third annual “Alabama Action” project organized and carried out by UA honors students to benefit the community.

Students will spend the week doing a variety of projects at the school including building an outdoor science/nature classroom equipped with a rock and mineral collection, a butterfly garden, a weather station and seating for 25 children. The students will also paint a mural, reorganize the library and mentor 3rd, 4th and 5th grade pupils.

“We’ll be working from about noon to 6 p.m. every day,” said Sarah Reppucci, this year’s student director of Alabama Action. “We have the largest group of freshmen in the history of the program, and we hope to accomplish a lot at the school.

“This is a great way to introduce new freshmen to the community and to help them appreciate the rewards of volunteering,” she said.

The UA freshmen will also begin their college academic careers by earning one hour of Honors class credit by attending a series of lectures, keeping journals and doing assigned readings during the week. The coursework will focus on the importance of volunteering and understanding issues related to poverty.

Speakers will include Ken Leistico and Kristy Ward of the Tuscaloosa Family Resource Center; Mary Porter, principal of Matthews Elementary; a representative of the Tuscaloosa County School System Child Nutrition Program; Dr. Jacqueline Morgan, director of the McNair Scholars Program at UA; Dr. Fran Oneal, manager of the UA Honors Program; Dr. Sylvia Dietrich, assistant professor of interdisciplinary teacher education, and community leader Star Bloom.

Freshmen in this year’s program hail from throughout the Southeast with students from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia enrolled.

“Alabama Action” began in 2001 as the brainchild of Honors student Kana Ellis. Ellis, who was later named Honors Student of the Year by the National Collegiate Honors Council and a member of USA Today’s 2003 All-USA College Academic Team, led 15 freshmen in refurbishing the Eutaw Boys & Girls Club. Last year, she continued to lead the program with a project involving more than 30 incoming students at Holt Elementary School.

This year’s director, Reppucci, is a junior from Huntsville. She is an education major enrolled in the College of Education’s Multiple Abilities Program, which combines elementary education and special education.

Note to editor/news director: A media availability is planned for 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 13, at Matthews Elementary School in Northport.