Springdale Public Schools Education Accelerated by Service and Technology students stood out among the competition March 14-16 at the National EAST Conference in Hot Springs.
Over 3,500 students, teachers, parents and community and business leaders attended the conference, EAST's largest annual event, according to the conference website. The multi-day event is an opportunity for students to showcase projects that make a difference in their communities, network with peers and industry professionals and experience a professional conference. The event is designed to empower students, celebrate accomplishments, foster connections and expand the EAST network.
More than 240 students, 25 facilitators and a support team of parents, administrators and chaperones represented Springdale Public Schools at the conference, showcasing over 125 student-driven community projects.
Sonora Middle School was recognized as one of three Founder's Award winners, and Westwood Elementary School was named a Cornerstone Award winner.
“At first, all I felt was surprise, because winning the Cornerstone Award for sophistication and innovation is the hardest award to achieve for elementary students,” said Sifa Alulu, Westwood fifth-grader. “I really thought that award would go to a high school program.”
The Founder's and Cornerstone awards recognize programs that are solid in the core principles of EAST, according to the conference website. The initiative provides opportunities for students to create their own journeys and is built on the cornerstones of Project Sophistication and Innovation, Student Growth and Engagement and Community and Collaboration.
“My first thought was we accomplished our goal,” said Coty Jones, Westwood fifth-grader of earning the Cornerstone Award. “We all put in the hard work, and it was recognized. That felt really good.”
Westwood’s EAST program is a great example of how a program can follow the EAST model, said Lynette Curzon, Westwood EAST facilitator. Multiple projects completed by Westwood students in recent years qualified the school for the Cornerstone Award.
Springdale Schools likewise won seven out of 15 competitions, Monitor Elementary School earned a Best of Conference Award, and Hunt, George and Knapp elementary schools earned Judges Choice awards.
District students were 14% of the event’s Difference Maker Award recipients as well.
Difference Maker ribbons and pins are awarded to students for various reasons, to include presenting a particular project in a manner that made a great connection or impact, being caught in a great act of kindness, going out of their way for others and other notable acts worthy of recognition.
Springdale Difference Makers included:
• Meredith Little, Hellstern Middle School
• Morene Mote, Knapp Elementary School
• Rebecca Biggs, Sonora Middle School
• Melanie Ramirez, Smith Elementary School
• Mackenzie Lemus-Monterorroza, Jones Elementary School
• Brecken Reith and Henley Little, Shaw Elementary School
• Gabby George and Abby Paschal, John Tyson Elementary School
• Kayie Rodriguez, Heather Corona and Gaby Carranza, Westwood Elementary School
• Jocelyn Benitez Ponce, George Elementary School
Competition Winners:
• EAST Project Competition: Sonora Elementary School, "Photogrammetry with War Eagle Caverns"
• Intentionally Inventive Marketing Competition: Helen Tyson Middle School, "Feed the 479: Meeting Their Marketing Needs"
• Multimedia Competition: Parson Hills Elementary School, "Panther Publications"
• Perfect Pitch: Har-Ber High School, “Recycling Downtown Springdale”
• Creating a New Reality VR: Competition: Helen Tyson Middle School, "Center of Innovation 360 Tours"
• Everyday Heroes: Hunt Elementary School, "Helping Officers Stay Healthy"
• Fay Jones Architectural Challenge Competition: Don Tyson School of Innovation, "Off-Grid Office"
Springdale’s Julia Penaflor of Helen Tyson Middle School, Miles Boomer and Ellie Worthy of Sonora Middle School, Evan Paull of Har-Ber High School and Leah Hampton of Monitor Elementary School also served as ambassadors and as part of the technical team in support of the event’s Leadership Team.
Leah said she enjoyed meeting new people, helping others and experiencing new things with leadership at the event.
