Arkansas Reads Program Launches New Book Drive

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U of A student LaShunta Williams reads to students at Marvell Elementary last spring as part of Arkansas Reads program.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Reads program, organized through the office of enrollment services at the University of Arkansas, is launching a drive to collect children's books for students K-5 at Hughes Elementary School in Hughes, in St. Francis County. The university is partnering again this year with Fayetteville High School and the effort is informally known as the "Hawgs and Dawgs program."

This is the second year for the program. A thousand books were collected last year and given to Marvell Elementary in Marvell, in Phillips County.

"The program last year was a wonderful success. The students at Marvell were very excited about the new books. The faculty and the staff there were incredibly supportive, and it was a good experience for everyone — the children who received the books as well as the students here who worked to collect them,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “Sharing an enthusiasm for reading is important to the development of young people everywhere. We want to support the efforts of the teachers and counselors at Hughes by bringing in books that they do not have.   These students are Arkansas’ future, and we want to do everything we can to encourage their love for learning.”

On Thursday, March 31, after books have been collected on campus and at Fayetteville High School, Gearhart and Provost Sharon Gaber will join a team of students from both campuses to travel to Hughes to deliver books to the school. The district is located in the Arkansas Delta, 35 miles southwest of Memphis. Hughes has a population of 1,423. The annual per capita income for the city is approximately $10,039. All the students at the school are qualified to receive free or reduced lunch.

The school library is available for use by students during the school day. The nearest public libraries are in Forrest City, 20 miles away, and West Memphis, 25 miles away. Karen Sullards, a Capacity Building Leader in the School Support Program sponsored by the Arkansas Leadership Academy, wrote to the University of Arkansas to ask if Hughes Elementary could be the next school to receive books in the Arkansas Reads program. 

"As we continue to build a culture of learning and improve the levels of student achievement in the Hughes School District, literacy is a key component,” said Sullards. “Putting more books, of all genres, into the hands of students in Hughes can only help us in that endeavor. The percent of our students scoring at the proficient/advanced level in literacy is increasing. We want to continue that trend and with the help of Arkansas Reads we can achieve even greater growth."

“I was delighted when Karen Sullards contacted us,” said Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment. “She has been appointed by the Arkansas Department of Education to serve as the school’s improvement director, and the school has made a great deal of progress. We would love to do anything we can to help Hughes Elementary continue to improve its literacy rates. It has also been a pleasure to involve students on our campus and at Fayetteville High School in this effort. Getting involved in a meaningful way is great experience for everyone.” 

The Fayetteville High School Dawg Crew, under direction of English teacher Michelle Fyfe, is a student service and recognition group. The high school is promoting the drive in English classes and with boxes placed in the halls. Students can also bring a book to designated basketball games in lieu of buying a ticket.

Collection efforts begin this week on the University of Arkansas campus and will run until March 15. Donation boxes are now in place in the following locations across campus: the Arkansas Union, Kimpel Hall, Mullins Library, Pomfret Hall, the Honors College lounge and the Northwest Quad. Those who would like to give children's books can also simply drop them by the office of admissions in the Silas Hunt Hall main lobby. Students or members of the community who would like to get involved beyond donating books should contact Lance Owen at 575-7940 or lowen@uark.edu.

The Arkansas Reads program is sponsored by Fayetteville High School and the following University of Arkansas offices and departments: the chancellor's office, office of admissions, Associated Student Government, Mullins Library, and the office of nationally competitive awards. Barnes and Noble and The Dickson Street Book Exchange are donating books as well. This program has also been made possible by generous gifts from the chancellor's office and an anonymous donor.