Theta Epsilon is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair this week in the Curriculum Materials Lab of the ACU Education Building to fundraise for their literacy event next spring.
The event started Monday and remains open through Friday.
Jessica Bailey, junior elementary education major from Brownwood, took advantage of the event early, purchasing three books on the first day.
“Last year, I hadn’t realized how big a role books and literature play in a classroom. Now that I’ve gotten into my classes, I’m stocking up my library,” she said.
Bailey wishes to teach abroad and the book, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, caught her eye as an educator.
“I immediately thought, ‘I could use this if I’m going to Africa. I could use this to teach English,'” Bailey said.
Whitney White, senior elementary education major from Trophy Club, also shares Bailey’s enthusiasm about the Book Fair.
“Students in the department are always looking to build their future classrooms and this is a perfect opportunity,” she said. “We are very excited.”
This is the second year in a row Theta Epsilon has sponsored the book fair. The money that is raised this week will be used to buy books and materials for students at Lee Elementary next spring.
White also serves as Kappa Delta Pi Theta Epsilon president and helped create this event based on the success of the first book fair.
“Last year we raised a little over $1,000 and bought over 100 picture books that will be given to students from Lee Elementary at our literacy event, Literacy Alive,” White said.
Literacy Alive is the education event this March at Lee Elementary. Theta Epsilon members will spend an evening at the elementary school with students and their families, participating in literacy activities.
“We will give the families ideas to do at home and each student will go home with a book,” White said. “The profit we make from the book fair makes this possible every year.”
Theta Epsilon is ACU’s chapter of the international education honor society, Kappa Delta Pi. Their mission is to create a community of prestigious educators that are seeking to impact students around the world, said White.
“We host fundraisers so that we can take our passion into the Abilene community and impact students through events like Literacy Alive,” White said.
The Scholastic Book Fair will be open Wednesday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. It is closed every day between 11 a.m.-12 p.m. for Chapel.
“We hope to keep this trend going for many years to come,” White said. “We are very thankful we can serve the Lee students in this way. It wouldn’t be possible without the support of ACU students and faculty that shop at our book fair.”
