News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 3/24/05   SOUTHEASTERN JUMPSTART HOSTS “JUMPSTART FOR A DAY” APRIL 9        HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Jumpstart program will host “Jumpstart for a Day,” a spring learning fair for the students and families of the program’s partner schools, at the Southeastern Laboratory School on Saturday, April 9.        Students and families from Southeastern Head Start, Hammond Head Start, and Midway Elementary and Southeastern Lab School pre-kindergarten programs are invited to enjoy a variety of activities, along with gift bags and door prizes, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lab School playground, said Audrey Dickens of Ponchatoula, a Jumpstart team leader.        The goal of “Jumpstart for a Day,” said Dickens, a junior elementary education major, is to demonstrate the benefits of Jumpstart to the young students’ families.         “There will be lots of fun activities, things to make and take home, food and skits, too,” Dickens said. “We hope our students and families will come with a smile and expect a good time.”        In case of inclement weather, the event will be postponed until April 16, Dickens said.        Now in its fourth year at Southeastern, Jumpstart, which is funded through Louisiana Serve and AmeriCorps, works with partner schools to create an environment of life-long learning for children. Working one-on-one with young children twice a week from September to May, Jumpstart corps members can earn a $1,000 education award after performing 300 service hours. Corps members who quality for federal work study can also earn $6.50 an hour.        Jumpstart Director Vaunne Blossman-Hand said Southeastern Jumpstart corps members have performed more than 9,200 service hours since last fall and approximately 44,000 hours since the program was initiated in 2001. Currently, 32 Southeastern students, divided into five teams, participate in Jumpstart. Recently, a dozen Jumpstart members from Bridgeport University in Bridgeport, Mass., spent their spring break at Southeastern to observe and participate in the university’s program.         Dickens, who is in her second year as a Jumpstart corps member, said she joined the program as a natural extension of her teacher preparation studies. “I fell in love with Jumpstart,” she said.         “The child I worked with last year didn’t talk, she played by herself,” Dickens said. “By the end of the year, she was asking for me and had four or five ‘best friends.’” She said she has seen her current young partner improve his attendance. “Now, he’s there every day,” she said.         For additional information about Jumpstart, contact Blossman-Hand at 985-549-5273.