Local Elementary Students Get a Taste of Spring Hill College Life

Mar 17th, 2004

Mobile, Ala. - Students from Mobile's Robbins Elementary School came face to face with a blowfish Wednesday on the campus of Spring Hill College and this time Nemo wasn't part of the experience. The third, fourth and fifth graders were enjoying a guided tour of the biology lab and the specimens contained there as part of a tour hosted by the Foley Center for Service Learning and the Admissions Office.

"We're helping children get an idea of what its' like to go to college," said Marcus Pruitt, College admissions counselor and tour guide. "Every child needs to have it in their mind that they're college bound. This is one way we can plant that seed."

Twenty-seven students enjoyed the tour of campus that featured stops at the Outlaw Rec Center, the Mitchell Theater, the bookstore and Yancey Hall biology building, where they ran into more than one scary critter.

Dr. Don Culberson, professor and chair of biology, displayed several specimens for the students as they visited one of the science labs. The animals, mostly contained in large jars, included snakes, jellyfish and spiders. A stuffed blowfish and the snout of a sawfish were both big hits with the students.

"I want to be a doctor and help people," said 11-year-old Branisha Jones. "I wasn't scared at all of the sea animals."

Following the tour, the students enjoyed a lunch of pizza and soft drinks with Spring Hill students in the cafeteria.

Jewel Simmons, reading specialist at Robbins Elementary, said she was familiar with Spring Hill College through the many tutors who volunteer each week at Robbins. She said she initially approached the Foley Center about hosting the campus tour.

"We brought them here so they could see all that a college offers," Simmons said. "To be successful, they really need to have an interest in going to college."

Dr. Kathleen Orange, director of the Foley Center, said the day's event was such a success, she hopes to expand the number of tours next year.

"This really has given us a great pattern to follow today," Orange said. "With the resources we have, I think we can do this three times per year. The students today were so interested and so curious."

For more information on Spring Hill College or the Foley Center for Service Learning, call 251-380-3030 or 251-380-3499. You can also visit the College online at www.shc.edu.



Photo caption: Spring Hill College professor and chair of biology Don Culberson displays a specimen from the biology lab as part of a campus tour Wednesday, March 17 for third, fourth and fifth graders from Robbins Elementary in Mobile.