Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, hosted a drive to create better opportunities and a better educational experience for Belizean students who lack even the simplest of learning tools, such as a pencil.
ODK collected pencils for Belizean schools Wednesday through Friday in a box behind the information desk in Waterfield Library.
The annual pencil drive began because of the Belize International Teaching Experience, a study abroad program created in 2007 to send education majors to Corozal, Belize, to finish their final weeks of student teaching. During those weeks of student teaching, participants of the program saw there were few pencils being used or bought for children in the schools.
“I direct the Belize Teaching Experience and saw first-hand that children in Belize are often lacking the most basic of school supplies,” said Bonnie Higginson, Regents professor emeritus and ambassador of the College of Education and Human Services.
Those students participating in the study abroad program this year will deliver the pencils to students in Corazol’s schools.
The pencil drive has been held every spring semester for student teachers and ODK members for five years.
“This goes to show that everyone, no matter where you are from, can make a difference in a child’s life,” said John Dressler, faculty adviser for ODK.
Story by Taurus Moore, Contributing writer