EAST Program Honored

MIDDLE SCHOOL NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

April 15, 2015 at 5:00 a.m.

by Lynn Kutter ENTERPRISE-LEADER

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER State Rep. Charlene Fite presented a citation from the Arkansas House of Representatives on Friday to students with Prairie Grove Middle School’s EAST program. About 100 students have been involved in EAST this year and they’ve completed around 50 projects, some small and some that involved lots of work. Standing on the right of the photo are Tracie Ashley, EAST facilitator, with Fite standing next to her. The program received a national award last month.
LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER State Rep. Charlene Fite presented a citation from the Arkansas House of Representatives on Friday to students with Prairie Grove Middle School’s EAST program. About 100 students have been involved in EAST this year and they’ve completed around 50 projects, some small and some that involved lots of work. Standing on the right of the photo are Tracie Ashley, EAST facilitator, with Fite standing next to her. The program received a national award last month.

PRAIRIE GROVE -- The Middle School's Environmental and Spatial Technology initiative is a national award winning program.

The program received the Timothy R. Stephens Founders Award of Excellence for Community Service and Collaboration at the National EAST conference held March 17-19 in Hot Springs.

Prairie Grove Middle School's EAST program was named a top 25 finalist for the award out of more than 200 groups participating at the conference. This includes EAST programs from all ages.

Four top awards were given out during the conference banquet and Prairie Grove brought home one of them.

In addition, Prairie Grove Middle School received a superior rating for its EAST program. About 60 programs received the highest rating available.

"It's amazing to be a part of something this big," said EAST facilitator Tracie Ashley. "That anything from a small town like Prairie Grove would be recognized nationally. We beat elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and college programs."

State Rep. Charlene Fite, of Van Buren, honored EAST students on Friday afternoon by presenting them with a citation from the Arkansas House of Representatives.

"I am so proud of you," Fite told about 100 EAST students gathered in the middle school library. "I've known for a long time what a treasure you are and now the whole nation knows. Please keep

General News on 04/15/2015