FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — During this season of giving University of Arkansas Honors College students and members of Mortar Board, a national honor society for college seniors, are joining forces to raise literacy awareness in Northwest Arkansas.

“Service is one of the three core tenets of the Honors College,” said Chelsea Hodge, Honors College assistant director of recruitment. “Literacy Awareness Week allows us to make a difference in our community and creates an opportunity for students to get involved.”

Literacy Awareness Week begins on Monday, Nov. 30 and runs through Friday, Dec. 4, and will feature events throughout the city.

 “This is an opportunity to invest in others,” Kristen Kent, president of Mortar Board and an Honors College Service Committee member, said. “As students it’s important that we give back and what better way to do that than to lead book discussions with patrons of the Seven Hills Homeless Shelter and facilitate a storytelling scavenger hunt at the Boys and Girls Club.” Kent also stated they are collecting gently used children’s books and monetary donations at the Arkansas Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 4. In addition, a Story Time Marathon will be taking place at the Fayetteville Public Library from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.

If you are interested in volunteering or donating contact Kristen Kent at kkent@uark.edu. Both organizations encourage all to get involved. See a full list of events and details below:

 

Literacy Awareness Week, Nov. 30-Dec. 4

Book Collection in the Arkansas Union

Monday, November 30th through Friday, December 4th

10a.m. – 2. p.m.

The Mortar Board and Honors College will be collecting gently used children’s books and monetary donations from the community.

 

Storytelling Scavenger Hunt at the Boys and Girls Club

Tuesday, December 1st

3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Volunteers will lead small groups of children as they navigate a scavenger hunt. At each station, a volunteer will be there to fill the students in on the next twist to their story, and group leaders will help the students find the next storybook-themed station.

 

Book Club at Seven Hills Homeless Day Center

Wednesday, December 2nd

10 – 11a.m.

Volunteers will lead a book club discussion with the patrons at Seven Hills. They will be reading and discussing The Giver by Lois Lowry. This will serve as a great program for those interested in literacy, poverty, and homelessness.

 

Story Time Marathon at the Fayetteville Public Library

Thursday, December 3rd

9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Student volunteers will read children stories aloud in the children's section of the public library. For nearly 12 hours we will open the imagination of the youngest of our community and show how exciting and rewarding it is to read.

 

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and unites the university’s top undergraduate students and professors in a learning environment characterized by discovery, creativity and service. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $70,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. One hundred percent of Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.