October 3, 2023
East Texas Baptist University’s Learning and Leading classes hosted Fall Festivals for all five of Marshall ISD’s elementary schools, including David Crockett Elementary, Sam Houston Elementary, William B. Travis Elementary, Price T. Young Elementary, and the Marshall Early Childhood Center on Monday, October 2, to serve nearly 1,000 elementary students and their families. ETBU’s Fall Festival events have become a tradition for the University’s students and the elementary students and families of Marshall ISD, with more than 350 ETBU freshmen planning and organizing the event during their Learning and Leading courses and the freshman Honors Program.
“Fall Festivals is one of my favorite times of the year,” ETBU Learning and Leading Coordinator Vanessa Johnston said. “Part of our mission at ETBU is to prepare students to be Christian servant leaders. Our students get to take what they have learned in class about Christian servant leadership and apply that knowledge by collaborating with each other to plan, build, and host booths at the Fall Festivals. Hosting the Fall Festivals for the families in Marshall ISD allows them to see the impact they can make in the community in a tangible way. We hope this experience positively affects not only the families of Marshall but also our students who will see the importance of loving and serving our neighbors as Christ has called us to do.”
The Learning and Leading course at ETBU is offered for all freshmen and transfer students during their first semester at the University. Taught by an ETBU faculty or staff member, each section meets in class for an hour once a week and completes at least one service project during the semester. The primary purpose of the class is to acclimate students to the college academic experience and examine the leadership attributes that will assist them in their future career calling.
The Fall Festivals specifically provide first-year ETBU students an opportunity to implement the knowledge and skills taught in their Learning and Leading course and a practical way to reach out and engage with the Marshall community.
“ETBU has taught me to really focus on why and how I choose to serve others,” ETBU freshman nursing major Sage Gladding said. “Planning the Fall Festivals alongside my peers was a great experience. It was fun to be creative and channel our inner-kid to make the event enjoyable for everyone. Opportunities like these help me be a better servant leader and put others above myself. Being a college student can often create a busy schedule, so having the chance to serve these families was really fulfilling.”