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HIPPY Alumni
HIPPY Alumni are Young Leaders
Featured below are HIPPY Alumni who have had successful educational experiences.
Alumni Spotlight: David Tenner
David Tenner, seen right, graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) in 2006 with a Bachelors Degree in biology.
As a result of her involvement with HIPPY, David's mother - Brenda - went on to complete her education and obtain a Masters Degree. Her story of educational empowerment will be featured in a future newsletter.
Interviewed by HIPPYTimes, David shared the comments below:
What is your fondest HIPPY memory?
One of my fondest memories was attending Horace Mann, the same school as my big brother. And, HIPPY the Hippo - he was a great motivational tool!
How did the program impact your family?
This program gave my family power by giving me knowledge in reading - and I know that knowledge is power.
Did you look forward to the Home Visits and Group Meetings?
I enjoyed the group meetings the most. The interaction was great, and it seemed as if my mom was always having a good time. The kid activities were great too.
Is there any other information you would like to share about you or your families' HIPPY, high school, or college experiences?
I now realize the impact of having learned recognition and context clues skills from HIPPY. These helped me to further expand my early education skills and resulted in really successful outcomes while in elementary and middle school.
Avima's Legacy
What better tribute to Avima's legacy than the achievements of the children in which her work had a direct impact - with visible results! Avima Lombard has left an imprint on early childhood education that will constantly inspire us as we continue her work to ensure that every child succeeds.
In May of 2008, Isierene Brown contacted HIPPY USA to share an update on a former HIPPY student. Her daughter, Autumn, had been named Salutatorian of the Dumas High School graduating class in Dumas, AR and been awarded a prestigious scholarship to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. In addition, Autumn received numerous other distinctions and honors during her high school career. Ms. Brown credits her Home Visitor and the support from the local HIPPY program staff with their family's educational success.
Interviewed by HIPPYTimes, Autumn shared the comments below:
What is your fondest HIPPY memory?
HIPPY was an important part of my childhood. I'll have to say that my fondest HIPPY moment was the HIPPY graduation because we dressed in our little paper gowns and hats. It made us feel important because the entire event was about us. Since I did not go to preschool right off the bat, HIPPY was my only means of meeting other children.
How did the program impact your family? Did you look forward to the Home Visits and Group Meetings?
My HIPPY guide was actually my aunt. It gave us an opportunity to grow closer while giving us something to do besides watch T.V. Since my mom had to work, I was alone with my aunt, so we began the HIPPY program to enhance my learning abilities. The HIPPY Home Visits were usually fun because I got to show off what I had learned.
Did you make any friends during your time with the HIPPY Program that you remain friends with today?
In high school, many of my friends were also part of the HIPPY Program. My parents videotaped my HIPPY Graduation and, I didn't realize it until I recently watched the tape, but many of my high school friends were HIPPY kids.
Is there any other information you would like to share about your HIPPY, high school or college experiences?
I would highly recommend HIPPY to anyone whose children are having a hard time coming out of their shell. HIPPY helped me learn how to interact with people outside of my comfort zone. I can say it had an impact on my success now.
If my family did not instill in me the importance of a quality education, I would not have acquired a thirst for learning. Learning is fun and it is something that you can never have too much of - because you really learn something new everyday. I am very thankful to my aunt and my mom for wanting me to learn and helping me as much as they could. I give them - and HIPPY - full credit for my 4.1 GPA in high school and for graduating salutatorian of my class.
HIPPY Alumni success stories will continue in the next issue. The story of Erica McMahon, former Heber Springs, AR HIPPY participant and Salutatorian of Pangburn High School, will be highlighted.
Erika McMahan Continues Education Legacy
Interviewed by HIPPYTimes, Erika shared the comments below:
What is your fondest HIPPY memory?
Graduating from the program was one of my fondest memories. I was sad to move on, but I had a sense of accomplishment at the young age of five.
How did the program impact your family?
The program was the building block of education in my family. Education was never a priority in my family until we met Ms. Julan. She is the one that taught both me and my mother the importance of reading and education.
Did you look forward to the Home Visits and Group Meetings?
Very much so! My mom worked two jobs to raise my brother and me so her time was limited. The home visits were the highlights of my week. I remember telling my little brother not to talk to me during the home visits because it was my time.
What made HIPPY so important in your life?
I truly feel that the HIPPY program was the fundamental building block of my educational experience. The program along with my very dedicated mother set me up for success at a very early age. I graduated both high school and college with academic honors and am now working as a founding teacher at KIPP Delta Elementary Literacy Academy in Helena, Arkansas.
Erica received her Early Childhood Education degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR last spring. She currently teaches at the KIPP Delta Elementary Literacy Academy in Helena-West Helena, AR while pursuing a Masters Degree in Reading.
