On a typical Tuesday, Sturgis Hall is filled with graduate students debating learning about program evaluation and field research missions. But on Feb. 17, members of the Clinton School of Public Service Student Government Association (SGA) traded their laptops for glitter and poster board to serve as the SGA Spirit Team for a Presidential Pep Rally.
The event, held at the Clinton Presidential Museum and Library, celebrated Presidents Day by welcoming local K-2 students for a day of history, reading, and fun.
To prepare, SGA members spent two sessions hand-decorating posters to welcome the young learners. When the school buses arrived, the Spirit Team was there to meet them with a boisterous greeting that included a local drumline and plenty of dancing and cheering.
A High-Energy Welcome
As a local band provided the heartbeat for the morning, Clinton School students lined the entrance to cheer on the visiting children. For the graduate students, the experience was a welcome shift in perspective.
“It was pretty high energy,” said Maddie LaRosa-Ray, a first-year Master of Public Service (MPS) student from Denton, Texas. “There was a drumline that students were a part of, so us volunteers were dancing along to that. The children seemed so excited to wave at us and read our posters as they came in. Seeing children happy to learn helps remind me of the positivity in the world. It’s definitely more fun cheering them on than doing my readings!”
Second-year MPS student Tarryn Harris of Nashville, Tennessee, noted that the rhythm of the day seemed to transform the visiting students.
“As we welcomed them, some were marching or dancing to the beat of the drumline,” Harris said. “Even the students that were more reserved or quiet had shy smiles on their faces. I think young kids really appreciate being recognized for their academic accomplishments. It is important to remind them that learning can be exciting and fun.”
Leadership Through Presence
The pep rally served as an important reminder for the Clinton School students that public service leadership isn’t always about high-level data. Sometimes, it’s as simple as being a supportive face in the community.
First-year MPS student Niki Brunson Saunders, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, noted that the transition to working with K-2 students felt incredibly natural because her graduate work often centers on civic education and leadership.
“Public service begins with how we show up for the youngest members of our community,” Brunson Saunders said. “Moments like this pep rally remind me that leadership also lives in joy, encouragement, and presence. Building early enthusiasm creates guardrails for their future.”
Brunson Saunders described the atmosphere as a blend of “whimsy, curiosity, and courage,” noting that the students felt like a living embodiment of the national motto.
“There was laughter and movement, but also a sense that these students believe they can be the ones who make a difference,” she said. “When they said thank you, it felt like a shared reminder that from many voices comes one community, living out the spirit of ‘e pluribus unum.’”
Celebrating History and Future
In addition to a scavenger hunt through the Clinton Presidential Library, students who attended the pep rally enjoyed a reading by 11-year-old author Rocco Smirne. His book, “Rocco Keeps the Beat! Music at the White House!”, was produced with support from the White House Historical Association. Rocco was accompanied by his mother, Arioth Smirne, a 20-year veteran of the Association’s events department.
A geography enthusiast and NASCAR fan, Smirne’s presence underscored the pep rally’s message: you are never too young to engage with American history and public service.
For the SGA Spirit Team, the day was a successful pivot from the rigors of graduate school to the heart of the Little Rock community.
“It was heartwarming to play a small role in this field trip,” Harris said. “I think this is something the students will remember for a long time.”