When walking around in downtown Searcy, Ark., one might see a number of things . For the doing or procrastinating of homework, The Underground was suitable option. For satisfying that sweet tooth, The Cookie Basket and Cutie Cakes were popular places. But right across the street fr om that stood a building that was commonly overlooked. It was a place where a service was offered to people who desired to learn English . T he White County Adult Literacy Council was a place that offered free tutoring to anyone who wanted to learn the English language. And throughout the school year, students involved with the Honors College got the opportunity to help with this endeavor. Most of what the Honor 's Council did was erase workbooks, which allowed for tutors to reuse them to teach the English language, and shelve books . The Council is set up much like a library , with a number of different kinds of books that were donated from people in the area and a vari ety of schools. "We have done two service projects this year with the [Adult Literacy Council]," junior Gabriella Marcellini said. "Both times we had about IS students come out to help shelve books, erase workbooks, clean, '" Workbooks were erased because the budget for the Council was cut. Since buying new workbooks was expensive, the Council saved money by having the students write in the workbooks in pencil with th e intent ion to erase and reuse later on. Searcy resident Ann Nieto was the Coordinator of the Literacy Council and was in charge of all aspects of the Council and worked closely with the students as well. But when she first started working, things took a wh ile to fall into play. "I didn't kn ow anything about illiteracy," N ieto said . "But 1have learned a gr eat deal. For one thing, Thad no idea that it was such a problem. Here in Arkansas, in some counties, there is a 44% illiteracy rate. " Though the numbers were surprising, Nieto used her skills to try and better educate illiterate people . "The more people that can read and write, the better employees they are going to be , the more they can upgrade, the more educated they can become and the better job they'll do raising their family," she said., N ieto said that when she started working, the percentage of people in White County that were illiterate was about 14- 15%, a number that is shocking to many. But the Adult Literacy Council's goal was to reduce this number as much as possible and allow people who want to read, write and understand the English language to do so in a comfortable environment and free of charge. "Ms. Nieto is very generous in her service by teaching people in the Searcy community to read," sophomore Anna Aardema said. "Reading is something that most of us take for granted, but h e r service becomes an invaluable gift to those that have not always had the capability of reading. Hannah Beall Working any odd job they are asked to do, Honors College members, juniors Gabriella Marcellini, Bradan Pitts, freshman Kimberly Bitting, senior Joshua Bakke and freshman Carter Wright reshelf books and erase markings in workbooks on Jan . 22 at the White Country Literacy Counci l bui lding. The Honors College members served Ms. Ann Nieto, who ran the building, in any job she needed them to do. Noah Darn ell 188 academics
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