Springdale Students Working to Make a Difference in Northwest Arkansas
By: Marissa Stevens, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: October 17, 2012
Students at Springdale's Har-Ber High School are taking knowledge from the classroom out into the community.
"We use advanced technology, problem-solving skills, self-direction, teamwork, collaboration and all of this comes together to find those problems in our community. They take the initiative to find those things that are going on that bother them and they come up with projects to try to find solutions," explains teacher Debbie Lamb.
Lamb teaches Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) and sees kids taking ownership of their education, watching creativity come to life.
Students presented plans for future projects to teachers, peers and parents Tuesday night as part of EAST Night Out.
"If we teach them to apply the things they have, not just read a book, but to read the things and read for knowledge and take the things that they're learning and apply them," Lamb says.
"We have veterans projects for people that are passionate about history, we have robotics and computer design for people who are more technical. There's a wide variety of types of people with leadership skills, with technical skills that have the ability to be part of projects that will have a drastic effect on the community," says Luke Burton, a senior at HBHS.
Students have spent hours volunteering, and recognize the bigger-picture. Groups of students are working to create apps that make transferring medical information easier for cancer patients. Others are searching for solutions to take down bullying and put a stop to texting while driving.
"This program teaches a lot about different technologies that you'll use in the business world and your teamwork, problem solving, all these different things that you can utilize in future jobs," says Madison Haskins, a junior at HBHS.
Lamb believes EAST is making a difference.
"We are building the future leaders right here in this school."
The EAST program at Har-Ber High School won the prestigious Founder's Award which is the top honor an EAST program can receive. The next competitive conference is in February and until then, students will be working hard on community projects.
"We use advanced technology, problem-solving skills, self-direction, teamwork, collaboration and all of this comes together to find those problems in our community. They take the initiative to find those things that are going on that bother them and they come up with projects to try to find solutions," explains teacher Debbie Lamb.
Lamb teaches Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) and sees kids taking ownership of their education, watching creativity come to life.
Students presented plans for future projects to teachers, peers and parents Tuesday night as part of EAST Night Out.
"If we teach them to apply the things they have, not just read a book, but to read the things and read for knowledge and take the things that they're learning and apply them," Lamb says.
"We have veterans projects for people that are passionate about history, we have robotics and computer design for people who are more technical. There's a wide variety of types of people with leadership skills, with technical skills that have the ability to be part of projects that will have a drastic effect on the community," says Luke Burton, a senior at HBHS.
Students have spent hours volunteering, and recognize the bigger-picture. Groups of students are working to create apps that make transferring medical information easier for cancer patients. Others are searching for solutions to take down bullying and put a stop to texting while driving.
"This program teaches a lot about different technologies that you'll use in the business world and your teamwork, problem solving, all these different things that you can utilize in future jobs," says Madison Haskins, a junior at HBHS.
Lamb believes EAST is making a difference.
"We are building the future leaders right here in this school."
The EAST program at Har-Ber High School won the prestigious Founder's Award which is the top honor an EAST program can receive. The next competitive conference is in February and until then, students will be working hard on community projects.
Comments
Thank you for this terrific story about the talented and committed students in the EAST program at Har-Ber High School. We are so proud of them at the EAST Initiative, and we are so grateful to you for recognizing their efforts to make a difference in your community.
Jana W.
October 17, 2012 at 9:55 am
