National Collegiate 4-H Conference Spreads Literacy

Collegiate 4-H’ers from more than 37 schools in the nation gathered recently in Pittsburgh, Penn., for the 2005 National Collegiate 4-H Conference.

Representing the Auburn club and the Alabama Collegiate 4-H organization were Michelle Craig, Adam Jones, Heather Powell, Brandon Strickland and adviser Evelyn Rachell.

Conference attendees participated in a variety of activities, including tours of the Pittsburgh area, workshops and presentations by nationally recognized speakers, such as David Newell (Mr. McFeely of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood”) and Dr. Cathann Cress,director of youth development, National 4-H Headquarters CSREES, USDA.

Collegiate 4-H’ers also conducted a youth literacy service project -- Reading Partners. They attended training workshops and learned not only how to effectively read with children, but also how to help children develop a love for reading. Collegiate 4-H’ers were encouraged to take what they had learned at the conference back home to their local schools and communities so others could benefit. At the conference, about 200 participants put the techniques they learned into practice when they read one-on-one with first- and second-graders in Duquesne city schools.

Reading Partners was selected as the national service project because the Collegiate 4-H program strives to make a difference in communities and to create members that are positive role models for youth.

Alabama delegate Michelle Craig was elected to serve as the 2005-2006 Southern Region business manager.

The conference provided an opportunity for college-aged 4-H alumni to unite and strengthen their commitment to the Collegiate 4-H motto, “Continuing to Share, Sharing to Continue.”

For more information about the national Collegiate 4-H program, visit
www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/comm/4h_collegiate.htm. For more information about the Auburn chapter or other collegiate 4-H clubs in Alabama contact president Anna Baltikauski, baltiam@auburn.eduor adviser Evelyn Rachell, racheen@auburn.edu.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at February 18, 2005 09:57 AM