The holiday season may be in the rearview mirror, but the free gift of auto repair Denice
Parkhurst received through the generosity of CARSTAR Arkansas Collision Center will keep her
rolling along well into the new year.
“I was super excited to know that I would have my car painted since it really needed that
- it is over 16 years old,” Parkhurst said.
Parkhurst, 56, is a Springdale resident who’s in her 10th year of teaching choir and music
at Helen Tyson Middle School. She’s been an educator for 32 years and has taught with
Springdale Public Schools for 17 years.
Parkhurst said she received about $2,000 in auto repairs when CARSTAR painted her car
and refurbished the headlights.
“We wanted to do something special this holiday season for the hardworking educators of
Springdale,” said Lindsey Smart, CARSTAR owner in a press release. “The last thing educators
should have to worry about during these challenging times is their cars.”
CARSTAR is North America’s largest franchise network of independently owned and
operated collision repair facilities with more than 700 locations in 35 states and 10 Canadian
provinces, according to the release.
Parkhurst said she was thrilled to find out she’d been nominated for the gift by the parent
of some of her former students.
“Mrs. Parkhurst is a deserving nominee because she puts everyone’s needs before her
own. Both of my children have had her as a teacher, and she is filled with positive
encouragement from the moment you walk into her presence,” said Taura Smith, who nominated
Parkhurst for the award. “Not only does she teach, but she is also heavily involved in her church
and community. I can’t think of a better way to show her how much she is appreciated than
having her car fixed.”
Parkhurst said the nomination meant a lot to her.
“Sometimes you think actions go unnoticed, so it was nice to see that the daily things I do
for kids were recognized in such a thoughtful way,” Parkhurst said. “Teachers have had a really
rough two years with the pandemic and teaching to reach all students. These types of
recognitions go a long way to encourage and support the people in our hardworking profession.”