Students at Darby Junior High School and their mentors from the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s Education Renewal Zone surprised residents at Covington Court Feb. 13 with valentine cards as part of the ERZ’s Mentoring Project.

 

The residents of Covington Court were all smiles as they received valentines from more than 50 Darby students, who handed out cards they made with their mentors the week prior to the visit. The students, with the help of their UAFS mentors, used various computer programs to create the graphics that decorated the cards, but the mentors also learned a few tricks from Darby students as well.  

 

“It was a treat to see that reciprocal learning and teaching,” said Jennifer Jennings Davis of Van Buren, ERZ director. “It builds confidence and relationships at the same time. It’s good for both the mentors and the students.”

 

The Mentoring Project is an initiative where UAFS students volunteer their time to serve as mentors to students participating in Ranger Recon, an after-school program for students of Darby Junior High School that includes tutoring, wellness activities and more.

 

For UAFS student Andrea Edwards of White Hall, being a mentor gives her the chance to serve as a role model.

 

“I was always around people who gave me encouragement and believed in me, and I just want to give that back to the students,” said Edwards, who has served in the Mentoring Project for three years through the Chancellor’s Leadership Council.

 

The Project came about after Davis and Darby Junior High Principal Darren McKinney sat down for a meeting to discuss how the ERZ could support the school’s academic efforts.

 

“Dr. McKinney emphasized that just a few blocks down the road from his school is a great four-year university and sadly, it was very foreign to his students,” Davis said. “He wanted his students to learn more about the college experience and allow them to begin visualizing themselves as future college students. Hence the Mentoring Project was born.”

 

Initially, most of the mentors were students in the Chancellor’s Leadership Council, but the program has expanded to include student volunteers from the Student Government Association, the Students Helping Students Succeed Organization and the Honors International Studies Program.

 

The Covington Court visit is one of six mentoring events held in the spring semester. Other events include roller skating at Wheels in Motion in Van Buren, learning about science at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, and attending a UAFS basketball game.

 

The Education Renewal Zone at UAFS is one of six ERZs in the state. It is a collaborative effort among 11 member school districts and 35 partner schools in the Arkansas River Valley. Its mission is to collaborate with Pre-K-16 educators, students, families and their supporting communities to combine efforts to improve achievement and learning experiences for all students.