CASE Students Lead Lights On Event with Visit from Senator Heidi Campbell

CASE students took center stage at this year’s Lights On Afterschool celebration, showcasing their leadership and creativity while welcoming Senator Heidi Campbell and community partners to campus. Senator Campbell shared a proclamation recognizing the importance of afterschool programs across Tennessee and reaffirming the need for sustained funding to ensure that students continue to benefit from these vital learning spaces. Her words set an inspiring tone for an evening dedicated to student growth and family connection.

In preparation for the event, CASE students thought through what makes a celebration successful and identified key areas: food, decor, music, space, and people. Each student took on a role to help bring these elements to life, serving as MCs, organizing refreshments, designing decorations, and coordinating performances, demonstrating teamwork and leadership in action.

As a class, they chose to feature their two afterschool clubs: the ASL club and the Visual Arts club. Members of each club presented short speeches about what their club is, why they joined, and what they’ve learned. Their thoughtful reflections gave guests a glimpse into the creativity and curiosity that drives CASE students every day. The ASL club performed the ASL alphabet and then, went around and taught the audience how to spell their name in sign language!

One of the night’s most joyful moments came when parents were invited to take part in a Readers Theater performance. Several parents volunteered on the spot, performing alongside their children and using props created by the Visual Arts Club. The laughter and applause that followed made it clear: family participation makes these moments so special.

Parent engagement was a highlight throughout the evening. One parent shared that growing up, she struggled with reading and was told she was was not smart, never realizing she had dyslexia and needed support. She expressed deep gratitude for CASE’s literacy-rich environment, which gives her student the confidence to read and fosters a genuine love of learning.

We were also honored to welcome Ana Harutyunyan, CEO of the Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA), and Brandon J. White, Director of Education at United Way of Greater Nashville, both strong advocates for quality afterschool programming across the city.

The evening captured the spirit of Lights On Afterschool: shining a light on the transformative power of afterschool programs to build leaders, strengthen families, and connect communities.