By KEITH RYAN CARTWRIGHT
Rutherford County Schools
EOA Architects have willingly participated in various outreach opportunities with area high schools from throughout Middle Tennessee and there’ve been favorable experiences for everyone involved.
But those events have involved hosting teenagers with an interest in pursuing architecture in college.
So when Christina Swart called her brother-in-law Jordan Etters with the idea of hosting an hour-long event with fourth- and fifth-graders, Etters was understandably apprehensive.
He works as a Leed AP BD+C at the East Nashville firm and Swart is an RTI coach at Walter Hill Elementary School.
“He was definitely surprised,” Swart admitted. “He was more than willing, but he questioned me a few times. He said, ‘Are you sure?’”
Swart and Heather Eskridge, a guidance counselor and this year’s Teacher of the Year at Walter Hill, organized this year’s version of The Amazing Shake, which is a multi-day competition that comes at the end of a semester long series of guest speakers and lectures emphasizing what are known as soft skills.
After two of challenges that included a trip to downtown Nashville, fourth-grader Aiden Watkins and fifth-grader Linda Pickel are the two finalists.
“I was really, really surprised,” Pickel said. “I thought I wouldn’t make it because I’m usually the quiet one in my class.”
Watkins was equally surprised.
“I didn’t know that I did a good job,” he said, admitting, “I thought that I (could do) better.”
Pickel and Watkins will be greeting customers and offering samples in a real life work environment Saturday afternoon at Sweet Cece’s. Watkins will be there from noon to 1 p.m. followed immediately by Pickel from 1-2 p.m.
Over the past few months, students have listened to everyone ranging from Publix, Kimberly Young with Junior Achievement, Trisha Murphy with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, Street Tuxedo & Versona Accessories, Jay Franze with American Security, Middle Tennessee Christian School and the Confucius Institute at Middle Tennessee State University. CONTINUE READING
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