TEXARKANA - The Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties won two awards during the Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas' conference Friday.
The Literacy Council won for Innovative Project of the Year and Student of the Year, two of the six awards the ALA gives annually to outstanding adult learning programs in Arkansas.
Innovative Project of the Year was awarded for a program developed by Myesha Holmes-Thomas, a student intern for the Literacy Council who is completing a master's degree in social work at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. For this project, she initiated a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Human Services to help serve local families.
Student of the Year was awarded to Denise Anderson, a Literacy Council student who worked hard to gain literacy skills and at age 56 read her first book in December.
Executive Director Jenny Walker said the awards are a result of strong partnerships, caring volunteers and dedicated students who have worked to push forward the mission of the Literacy Council.
"Our success is a direct reflection of the wonderful people we have supporting our work," Walker said. "Without our community, our doors would be closed right now. Not only are our doors open, but we are excited to be a leader in the region for adult learning."
The Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas is a statewide nonprofit that provides structure and support to county-level literacy councils serving adults in more than 50 Arkansas counties.