UA Honors Students Come to Campus Early to Volunteer at Local Elementary School

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Some 40 freshmen in The University of Alabama Honors College, along with 14 student leaders, will be starting school a week early to participate in a community service project at Northington Elementary School Aug. 15-21.

The program is the fourth annual “Alabama Action” project organized and carried out by UA honors students to benefit the West Alabama community.

Students will spend the week doing a variety of projects at the school, including painting a mural depicting the school’s 3-R theme of being “Respectful, Responsible and Ready to Learn,” landscaping the front of the school, refurbishing the main office area and the outdoor basketball court, painting each of the school’s four pods or clusters a different color and helping the students choose a mascot for each cluster. The UA students will also mentor 4th and 5th graders at the school, focusing on morale building lessons.

“Alabama Action not only fosters academic growth, but it introduces the incoming freshmen to their new community of Tuscaloosa while creating strong bonds with the other freshmen and the student leaders. Alabama Action leaves the students with a positive outlook on service and incredible relationships that will carry over into their next four years at the Capstone,” said UA honors student Mimi Srygley, who is co-directing the project this year with UA honors student Allie Esslinger.

The UA students will be at the school to eat lunch with the 4th and 5th graders at 11:30 a.m. each day, followed by classroom mentoring time, with the work projects beginning at 1:30 p.m. 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 Kristy Ward, Paula White and Ken Leistico of the Tuscaloosa Family Resource Center; and from UA, Dr. Sylvia Dietrich, assistant professor of interdisciplinary teacher education; Dr. John Lochman, professor and Saxon Chair of Psychology; Dr. Jacqueline Morgan, assistant director of admissions for alumni and volunteer recruitment; Dr. Fran Oneal, manager of the Honors Program; and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, assistant professor and director of the African-American studies program.

Freshmen in this year’s program come from throughout the Southeast with students from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida enrolled.

Alabama Action began in 2001 as the idea of UA honors student Kana Ellis of Northport. 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 renovating the Eutaw Boys & Girls Club. The student service project has focused on Holt Elementary and Matthews Elementary Schools in Tuscaloosa County in subsequent years.

This year’s co-directors, Srygley and Esslinger, are from Smyrna, Tenn. and Huntsville, respectively. Srygley is a senior majoring in health care management and Esslinger is a junior majoring in international relations.

Editor’s Note: A media availability is planned for 2 p.m. Aug. 18, at Northington Elementary School.