CEOE's K8Tigers Program makes a special impact on one 3rd grade student in Georgia

*Story sent in by Jessica Potkovac, 3rd Grade Teacher at Baker County Schools. Ms. Potovac's classroom received Auburn University promotional items donated through the K8Tigers program run by the Center for Educational Outreach and Engagement (CEOE).

"I would like to thank you tremendously for the kind and generous donations that you made for my students. Not only did my students absolutely love the pencil sharpeners (they all picked those out of the prize box first!), but it made a special impact on one of my students.

She lost her father unexpectedly in a car wreck this summer, just weeks before school started back. She is the oldest (3rd Grade) of three children with a sister in pre-k and a brother who is not yet in school. She earned the chance to pick out of the prize box one day and picked the Auburn pencil sharpener. I didn't think anything of it because that was the "hot" item that all of my students were picking. She came to school the next day telling me how excited she was to get the pencil sharpener because her daddy was a huge Auburn fan. She continued by telling me that she placed the sharpener with his urn. That just melted my heart, so I gathered up an Auburn t-shirt and the Family sticker that was donated to me and gave them to her on Friday. She came to school the next week so excited. She told me she wore her Auburn shirt to the doctor and that they were going to wash their car before they put the sticker on it. Even her mom was so thankful for the small gifts that I gave her daughter. I am so thankful for your generous donations to my classroom, so that I was able to make such an impact on this child. I would love to be able to further our partnership for this family. If there is anything else that can be done for them, please let me know.

I, too, experienced the loss of my father while I was in elementary school. I had one teacher that went above and beyond to make sure that my family was taken care of. I am still thankful of Mrs. Stein to this day. I want to be that person for my student. I believe that Auburn University can help me to be that person. Thank you again for your generosity.

I have attached a picture of her wearing the shirt that was donated to me. I also attached pictures of my college wall, including the Auburn football poster and pennant. The final picture is of my prize bucket with only one Auburn sticker left. My students have already collected all of the pencil sharpeners."

—Jessica Potkovac, Third Grade Teacher, Baker County Schools