214 [organizations] H arding students were searching for ways to reach out and help the Searcy community.The Student’s Chapter for Exceptional Children (SCEC) chose to give parents a way to have an evening on the town while their children had fun on Harding’s campus.The SCEC hosted a Parents’ Night Out once a month for the parents of children with exceptionalities, such as a physical or mental disability, and their siblings. Primarily, the SCEC was made up of education majors but was not exclusive to just those students.The president of SCEC, senior Pamela Jewell, was a communication science and disorders major. “The SCEC is always open to people of all majors,” senior Kelli Holloman, a member of SCEC, said. Holloman, an education major with a focus on special education, had been a member of the SCEC for the past two years and became involved as a way to learn more about children with special needs. “The Council for Exceptional Children is a national organization seeking to advocate for students with special needs and create better, more informed educators,”Holloman said. The SCEC hosted many events, the main one being Parent’s Night Out (PNO) which was held once a month at Downtown Church of Christ from 6 – 10 p.m. on Friday nights. “PNO is designed as childcare, provided by the SCEC members and other Harding students, and is intended for children with disabilities ages birth to 21 and their siblings,” Jewell said. “The idea is to give their parents a chance to go Christmas shopping, have a “date night”, go grocery shopping, etc.” The SCEC members had several activities planned for the children during the evening. “At PNO we will have a book center where the children can sit and look at different picture books,” senior LeahWoods said.“We will also have someone there to read to the children if they would like.There is also a coloring/painting center and sometimes we put in a movie that the kids will enjoy. We also try and have a craft that coordinates with our theme for the month.” The popularity of the event made the organization increase its frequency. “PNO started as an event that occurred once a semester,”Woods said. “Last year we changed how we were running things and went to offering the service once a month.We found that parents need a chance to relax more than twice a year.” The SCEC, through service and care, gave parents as well as their children a unique way to have an exciting night. [Leigh Hutchinson] advocate [kappa delta pi] [chapter for exceptional children] Students serve parents of disabled children Row 1: Dr. Watson [sponsor], R. Milholland, L. Woods, D. Rubin, A. Bazargani. Row 2: H. Wilson, T. Smith, M. Morris, C. Canterbury, A. Justus, R. Morse, A. Gentle, B. Davis. Row 3: C. McGee, Dr. D. Lee, E. Long, J. Riley, J. Bankston, A. Quattlebaum, A. Barker, P. Morse, A. Durant, K. Estepp, K. Teffertiller. Row 1: M. Stanley, P. Jewell, L. Woods, D. Frank.
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