With more than 5,000 books in tow, the University of Arkansas visited various elementary schools in Northeast Arkansas Oct. 26 – 27, helping to grow local library collections and promoting early literacy as part of the Arkansas Reads program.

As part of the the trip, Chancellor Charles Robinson and others also visited other local schools, including KIPP Blytheville, and high schools in Blytheville, Brookland and Paragould, including Greene County Tech High School.

At each location, Robinson spoke to juniors and seniors about the U of A and the importance of a earning a college degree.

At Blytheville Elementary, Robinson was joined by Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment management and dean of admissions; Pam Fowlkes, coordinator for college access for east Arkansas; recruiters Riley Wilson and Kayla Gussy; as well as current U of A students for a celebratory event with Blytheville Elementary students; the school’s principal, Shayla Adelowo; and other school supporters.

"It was a fulfilling couple of days,” Robinson said. “The children we visited with were engaging and excited to have us. Encouraging literacy early in life is key for a child’s development, and we’re happy to be able to make these donations that hopefully will impact each of the students we met with and beyond. Additionally, it was great to meet with prospective college students, meeting them in their hometowns across Arkansas and inviting their consideration of the U of A. We are intentional about making sure all of Arkansas knows they belong here."

Robinson visited with the students, who were all decked out in Razorback red, telling them about the U of A, explaining why reading is important and to make it fun.

After learning how to Call the Hogs, students also had the opportunity to get photos with the Razorbug.

Since its creation in 2009, the Arkansas Reads Program has donated over 40,000 books to partner elementary schools in the Delta region through the help of campus and community partners. This year’s donation came from a grant in the Women’s Giving Circle.

Other Arkansas Reads schools include Mildred Jackson Elementary in Hughes, Marvell-Elaine Elementary in Marvell, Whitten Elementary in Marianna, C.B. Partee Elementary in Brinkley, Dermott Elementary in Dermott, Jimmy Brown Elementary in Star City, Drew Central Elementary in Monticello and Augusta Elementary. The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards coordinates the program.

As in years past, the Arkansas Reads program also donated e-readers filled with hundreds of downloaded books at a variety of reading levels, courtesy of a generous donation from a number of campus partners: the Women’s Giving Circle, the African and African American Studies Program, the Brown Chair in English Literacy, Center for Arkansas and Regional Studies, College of Engineering, Honors College and Office for Diversity and Inclusion.

“The Arkansas Reads Program is a great opportunity for the university to reinforce what teachers are telling their students: that reading is a skill that is essential to their futures,” McCray said. "It is important to make it fun, and providing exciting books for them to take home and additional books for the school library helps to do that. And of course, Razorback coloring books and the Razorbug are always a hit!”

Departments or programs who would like to join the Arkansas Reads Program in collecting books or contributing to the purchase of books should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards by phone at 575-4883 or by email at awards@uark.edu.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.