UA Students Help Hispanic Children to a Good Start in School

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama students are crossing language barriers to help young, Hispanic students succeed in school right from the start.

The UA students are working in the Hispanic Jumpstart Program, designed to benefit preschool students as they learn English as their second language.

The program, now in its second year, is held Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-noon, at University Place Elementary School until July 2. Offered free of charge, the program works to break down barriers and prepare the children for both the academic and cultural challenges of school.

Last year, several UA students were awarded Daniel Scholars Project funding by the UA Blackburn Institute to launch and maintain the Hispanic Jumpstart Program in partnership with the city school’s existing preschool Jumpstart Program.

“The community, including the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education, has embraced the program,” says Becky Reamey, coordinator of the UA Blackburn Institute. “The initiative and dedication that the UA students have shown throughout the program is an inspiration to us all to continue to remember our community,” she says.

Three UA Blackburn Fellows – Erin Shirley of Winfield, Laura Dover of Jasper and Wilson Boardman of Homewood – gained funding and launched the program, recruiting a teacher with the language skills and training needed to make the program a success in its first year.

This year, Shirley is involved again as a student mentor along with Taylor Arabian of Montgomery, also a Blackburn Fellow; Evan Szczepanski of Columbus, Ga., an incoming freshman and University Fellow; Sarah Patterson of Decatur, a University Fellow and Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility Scholar; and Andre Bernal, a sophomore at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa.

The UA students praised this year’s teacher, Tammy Morton of Skyland Elementary, for her innovative use of learning stations and other methods that bridge the gap between English and Spanish. The four- and five-year old students are having fun while learning at the same time, their UA mentors say. For example, when the students learned the letter ‘W’ they were pulled around the classroom in a wagon – an activity that created great enthusiasm for learning.

The Blackburn Institute provides seed money for sustainable community service projects, like this one in Tuscaloosa, across the state. Blackburn student fellows and alumni fellows envision and implement these projects.

“The Blackburn Institute is about projects like this one,” says Shirley. “The support and guidance from the Blackburn Institute has made this program work. I am amazed at the progress the children have made in a short time, and I hope to follow their progress as they enter kindergarten this fall.”

In addition, this program has earned a $5,000 Caritas Grant from the UA Community Service Center, and, together these have allowed the program to continue on track. The Caritas Grant, sought by Shirley, is designed to be used for re-investment in the community.

Blackburn Fellows Shirley and Arabian both agree that participating in this program has taught them as much as the young students have learned. “The thing I really enjoy most about the program is that it is volunteering, but it doesn’t feel like volunteering because I’m having so much fun. I also know I am helping to pave the way for the students’ academic success while improving my Spanish by communicating with them, and that is very fulfilling,” says Arabian.

Incoming freshman, Szczepanski said he’s also enjoyed getting to know the students and contributing to the community.  “It was important to me to help these kids, who may have had a very difficult time next year, be prepared for a successful start in kindergarten,” he said.

Shirley adds that student volunteers don’t have to be fluent in Spanish. “The idea is to expose the preschool students to English as much as possible.  I encourage all interested UA students to apply to volunteer next year,” she says.