Poppy Daws, a Willow Lane Elementary School fourth grade student, recently won BIC®’s “Principal for a Day” contest.

During the summer, Willow Lane’s Gifted Specialist Julia Dweck contacted her students with information pertaining to the contest. Contestants responded to the question, “What would you do if you were principal for a day?”

All submissions were to be 75 words or less and handwritten.

Daws submitted her idea to connect elementary students to senior citizens through the use of personal interviews. Not only did the concept garner Daws the $10,000 scholarship first prize, but it also became the basis for a class project focusing on interview and communication skills.

Dweck’s students prepared questions, practiced discussion techniques and ultimately interviewed senior citizens living at the Village at Willow Lane Senior Living Community as well as several volunteer grandparents.

The children took turns serving as interviewers and recorders. The interviewer opened the conversation with a series of questions tailored to the individual senior citizen. The recorder captured the discussion using a computer tablet. The elderly guests generously shared memories and accomplishments that ran the gamut from World War II heroics to early 20th century rural living with interested, attentive children.

And, Poppy Daws’ idea came to life.

The project will come full circle after the Emmaus High School audio/visual club edits the interviews into a full length movie. At that time, the senior citizen participants will be invited back to the school to view the film, to celebrate with the students and to recognize Poppy for her inspiration.