Third grade students from Greenville Elementary School got the chance to tour the campus of Huntingdon College Saturday.

For Greenville Elementary School reading and social studies teacher Donald Rucker, exposing his students to college is all about changing lives.

“My students are the most hardworking, positive, and respectful kids you will ever meet,” Rucker said. “I stress the importance of higher education every day to my students. We talk about the habits of college students and how we can incorporate those habits into our classroom community.”

According to Rucker the trip to Huntingdon’s campus was the first of many that are planned for the students.

“I hope to be able to take the students on a tour of the University of Alabama and Auburn University campuses as well,” Rucker said.

The students received a guided tour of Huntingdon’s campus and had the chance to watch the Hawks’ football game.

The trip was made possible through donations.

“We have a number of projects that are made possible through parent involvement and donations,” Rucker said.  “Each and every day our students come in to work, learn, and behave, trying to reach personal goals that they set fro themselves.  Trips like the ones to Huntingdon College can change a child’s life and open up a pathway to a brighter future.  It’s all about planting seeds to grow in these kids’ hearts.”

Rucker is a part of the Teach for America program and is currently in his second year in the Butler County School System.

Teach for America is a non-profit national teacher corps of college graduates and professionals who commit to teach for two years and raise student achievement in public schools.