CONWAY, Ark. (July 1, 2014) – Nineteen Hendrix students spent part of their summer experiencing
life as a member of the faculty rather than a member of the class.
The students participated in "Ridin' Dirty with Science," a summer camp created
to engage, excite and educate children from the Boys and Girls Club of Faulkner
County. The camp drew more than 60 boys and girls who will be in third- through
sixth-graders when classes resume in the fall.
Ples Spradley '15, from Little Rock, said that he learned to appreciate
and respect elementary and middle-school teachers while working at the summer camp.
"Working with third- through sixth-graders was tiring and challenging at times
but rewarding and fun at others," Spradley said. "It takes a lot of patience to
communicate complex ideas to kids with limited science backgrounds."
The 60 students were divided into two groups that each spent two days on campus.
A major strength of the programs is its 2:1 child/teacher ratio, which allows the
children to explore at their own pace with their own personal scientist.
He said that working with children who ask lots of questions was his favorite
part of the experience.
In addition to Spradley, the Hendrix students who participated in Ridin' Dirty
this year included graduating seniors Kevin Spatz and Vincent Gammill, along with
Emily Brown '15, Ashley Elser '16, John Gann '17, Abby Gatmaitan '17,
Stephanie Hernandez '15, Jake Higgins '16, Dagen Hughes '15, Pearl
Jangjiravat '17, Any Jivan '16, Angela Lamb '17, Julia Lefler 17,
Taylor McElroy '16, Justin Murdock '15, Candyce Sarringar '17, Sowmya
Sivakumar '15, and Bernard Smith '15.
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is a national leader in engaged liberal arts
and sciences education. For the sixth consecutive year, Hendrix was named one of
the country's "Up and Coming" liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. Hendrix
is featured in the latest edition of Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That
Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges, as well as the 2014 Princeton
Review's The Best 378 Colleges, Forbes magazine's list of America's
Top Colleges, and the 2014 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Hendrix has been affiliated
with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information, visit
www.hendrix.edu.