BATESVILLE, Ark. – For Brandi Allen and her kindergarten son, Rhys, College Day at West Magnet Elementary did not seem right without real college students. The school’s Red Ribbon Week for awareness of drug-free living included special themed dress-up days during the week. On College Day, Rhys brought his Scots sword and wished he could hang out with some Lyon football players.
Her son’s wish gave Allen an idea. She contacted his teacher and some Lyon students and coordinated a visit to the classroom. These students celebrated College Day by reading stories to all of the kindergarten classes. Jennifer Keys, Bethany Butler, Becca Burrow, and Kristen Blagg represented the Phi Mu sorority among the student volunteers. Scots football players Jon Alexander and Jordy Wyble also volunteered, as well as APPLE Project Upward Bound staff members Jeanette Youngblood, Cory Godbolt, and Allen herself.
West Magnet asked the Lyon volunteers to return, and Allen is ready to make that happen. “I hope to coordinate something on a repeating basis with the school and volunteers from campus,” she said. They are very focused on promoting literacy in the younger students, and I am more than happy to help them in any way that we can.”
