Penn, pottery and a purpose

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Amber Lake, marketing and media specialist for William Penn University, helps fifth-grader Amelia Biggs make a clay pot Tuesday afternoon at Oskaloosa Elementary School. Herald photo by Andy Goodell

September 1, 2010

By ANDY GOODELL The Oskaloosa Herald The Oskaloosa Herald Wed Sep 01, 2010, 09:14 AM CDT

OSKALOOSA — Who knew arts and crafts could help so many?

Oskaloosa Elementary School fifth-graders began doing their part to help those in need right here in Oskaloosa and on the other side of the globe on Tuesday.

After school, students pinched and molded together clay bowls as part of William Penn University’s Souper Bowl Benefit Luncheon, which is coming up at the beginning of October.

All proceeds from the fund-raiser luncheon, which will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Penn Activities Center lobby Oct. 3, will go toward both the Ecumenical Cupboard in Oskaloosa and will also help in Penn’s efforts to improve the quality of education in Rwanda.

Amber Lake, marketing and media specialist for Penn, said the university is working in conjunction with a group called Generation Rwanda, which helps young people in the African nation earn university-level education.

“Our ultimate goal with that is to create an exchange program,” said Lake before noting that Penn currently has four Rwandan students enrolled at the university.

Aside from the good-will efforts behind the bowl making exercise, there’s another obvious reason to take time with the ceramic arts, said Lake.

“I thought it would be fun to work with kids,” Lake said of working alongside the 35 or so Oskaloosa Elementary students involved in the program. “Some of the bowls they’re making should be really neat. It’s also just a way for us to work with the community and promote Penn to all generations of people.”

New Penn President Dr. Ann Fields was on hand to help make bowls Tuesday at Oskaloosa Elementary, as well. She reminded students of the pillars of Quaker beliefs and provided students with stones that listed these pillars.

Next week, the childrens’ clay bowls will be made ready for use through a glazing and “firing” process to make them ready for painting.

It’s not just children who will be making the bowls. Penn students and those involved in area businesses are also be making ceramic contributions, said Lake.

The Souper Bowl Benefit Luncheon will follow Dr. Fields’ inauguration ceremony the previous Friday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m. in the PAC.

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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com