LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 20, 2024) – Former long-time Springdale School District Superintendent and EAST Initiative champion Dr. Jim Rollins was presented as this year’s Director’s Award winner during EAST’s annual conference in Hot Springs, March 12-14.
Rollins guided the Springdale School District for 38 years before retiring in 2020. He was named Arkansas Superintendent of the Year twice – in 1992 and again in 2004 – and was honored with the 2020 Outstanding Alumnus Award in Education from the College of Education and Health Professions from the University of Arkansas.
EAST Conference is an annual multi-day event that gives EAST program students the opportunity to showcase projects that are making a difference in their communities, and to network with peers and industry professionals. EAST Senior Director of Program Services Alicia Humbard said that more than 3,500 students from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma were on for this year’s event.
By the numbers, EAST Conference 2024 included:
· 57 – number of students serving as the conference’s Student Leadership Team. These students represent schools in Arkansas and Oklahoma, and are responsible for planning many aspects of the event;
· 39 – number of educational breakout sessions hosted by sponsors and EAST alumni;
· 48 – number of exhibitors on hand, surpassing last year’s number of 31;
· 14 – number of sponsors for this year’s event.
The EAST Founder’s and Cornerstone Awards recognize programs that exemplify the core principles of EAST. These competitions give students the opportunity to reflect on their experiences in EAST and to tell the story of their program’s successes. This year’s award winners included:
Founder’s Award recipients:
· Dover High School
· Hot Springs World Class High School
· International Studies Magnet School (Jonesboro)
Cornerstone Award include:
· Project Sophistication & Innovation – Lakeside Junior High School (Springdale)
· Student Growth & Engagement – Benton High School
· Community & Collaboration – Westwood Elementary School (Springdale)
“The impact demonstrated by these schools in their communities is truly inspiring,” Humbard said. “The selected programs vary from recently added to long-established institutions within the EAST network. These winners include facilitators with a decade of EAST experience and facilitators who are just beginning their EAST journey. Having the opportunity to witness these achievements and the growth is inspiring.”
Little Rock Central High School senior Kevin Durden was named as this year’s Lindsey Ball Parker Award winner. Nine years ago, EAST began honoring of one member of the EAST Conference Student Leadership Team who exhibits determination, a positive work ethic and an unflagging dedication to helping make Conference the best experience possible. The award was named for a former EAST standout from Harrisburg, Ark., after her death in 2014.
Lindsey’s son Knox and her grandmother Joan Ball were on-hand to present the award.
EAST students are engaged and excited about learning. In a survey of more than 3,400 students across 42 schools, data showed that the EAST experience is 22% more engaging than other core courses. The survey was conducted through a tool called the Wellington Engagement Index (WEI). Created by educators, WEI was designed to measure student engagement, and to give administrators and teachers opportunities for reflection as they challenge students to solve real problems in their communities. During the 22-23 school year, EAST programs:
· Collaborated with 1,285 community partners for more than 17,990 volunteer hours;
· Realized an estimated economic impact statewide of more than $461,620 dollars through those volunteer hours;
· And trained more than 7,610 students through 110 unique training opportunities both online and in-person.
A complete list of EAST Conference Competition Award Winners will be posted on March 29 at eastconference.org/highlights/2024.