Batesville-area students create videos to promote March 20 juggling fundraiser for single parents

Single parents juggle every day — figuratively, of course — balancing work, parenting, finances, and more on their own.

Recognizing this, the nonprofit Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund issued the Single Parent Juggling Challenge as part of its March 20 fundraiser, Day of Giving, held in honor of National Single Parent Day. Students from the Batesville School District stepped up to the challenge.

ASPSF visited Eagle Mountain Elementary School to review the final juggling videos on Feb. 26. From left: EAST Initiative Facilitator Andrea Weaver, Laiken Lee, ASPSF Chief Communications Officer Jen Lawrence, ASPSF scholarship recipient Ariel Craft, Emma Landers, Emmy Gitz, and ASPSF Program Manager Joy Smith.

Fifth graders Emmy Gitz, Emma Landers, and Laiken Lee of Eagle Mountain Elementary School created five compilation juggling videos. Under the guidance of EAST facilitator Andrea Weaver, the girls filmed classmates, teachers, and others attempting to juggle. The videos can be viewed at aspsfday.org/juggling.

“It has been such an honor to make these videos,” Gitz, Landers, and Lee wrote in an email. “We have had such a wonderful time making them, and learned so much while working on these videos!”

Throughout the day on March 20, Arkansans are encouraged to participate virtually by donating at aspsfday.org or engaging with the Single Parent Juggling Challenge by sharing their own juggling attempt with the hashtag #ASPSFDayofGiving. The goal is to raise $45,000 to fund 28 full-time scholarships, helping single parents continue their education while supporting their families.

“I was so excited when Ms. Weaver reached out last fall, saying that the girls wanted to help,” said Jen Lawrence, the scholarship fund’s chief communications officer. “The final videos turned out amazing. The students printed logos for the background and added fun special effects.”

Weaver said Gitz, Landers, and Lee gained skills in marketing, branding, and video editing. EAST is a service-based elective course offered in K-12 schools partnered with the EAST Initiative. The experience incorporates service and technology in the classroom by encouraging students to solve community issues through 3D printing, digital media, GIS mapping, and coding.

ASPSF visited Sulphur Rock Elementary School to review their video and map projects on Feb. 26. From right: ASPSF Program Manager Joy Smith, ASPSF Chief Communications Officer Jen Lawrence, along with students and EAST Facilitator Jenine Ottaway.

The scholarship fund also partnered with EAST students from Sulphur Rock Elementary School for two other projects under the instruction of facilitator Jenine Ottaway.

Fifth graders Aubrey Scribner and Max Pierson created a video explaining how single parents can qualify for the scholarship.

Another group of fifth graders, including Cohen Hill, Ruby Morrow, Lyla Beth Hughes, and Wyatt Conyers, is developing an interactive map that will share stories, photos, and videos of scholarship alumni.

Single parents who have received a scholarship since 1990 are encouraged to fill out a survey to help the students complete the map.

Sulphur Rock students are also working on projects for the Little Rock Zoo. One group has designed a sippy cup holder to attach to a walker for a local child with a disability.

For more information about the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, contact Jen Lawrence at 501-550-6304. For more information about EAST, contact Luke Story at 501-371-5021.

ASPSF recipient Ariel Craft, pictured with her sons, visited the Eagle Mountain Elementary School on Feb. 26 to visit with EAST students Emmy Gitz, Emma Landers, and Laiken Lee.

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