A new initiative at the Ruth Staples Child Development Lab School at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is expanding opportunities for young learners and future educators through the Windsweep Farm Scholar Award & Literacy Projects, a program dedicated to strengthening early literacy experiences.
The award provides funding to enhance literacy-rich environments within the Lab School, supporting the purchase of high-quality books, learning materials and hands-on literacy experiences. A key feature of this initiative is the development of an outdoor library, designed to extend reading and storytelling into the school’s outdoor classroom space. This nature-based approach encourages children to explore literacy in meaningful and engaging ways beyond traditional indoor settings.
“The Windsweep Farm Scholar Award not only benefits children but also empowers future educators to think critically about how they design and support literacy experiences,” said Jenny Leeper Miller, director of the Ruth Staples CDL. “It’s an investment in both current learning and the future of early childhood education.”
In addition to its impact on children, the award also plays a vital role in the preparation of pre-service teachers at Ruth Staples. Each semester, student teachers are actively involved in selecting high-quality literacy materials and implementing effective teaching strategies. This hands-on experience helps them develop a deeper understanding of how to create engaging, literacy-rich environments that meet the needs of young learners.
As part of the program, one student teacher each year is recognized as a Windsweep Farm Scholar, awarded to an individual who demonstrates a strong passion for literacy and a commitment to enriching the lives of children through meaningful reading and language experiences. The Windsweep Farm Scholar Award is a $10,000 award designed to support early career educators as they begin their professional journey. Recipients receive the funds during their first year of employment to intentionally design and implement literacy-focused experiences within their early childhood classrooms.
The award empowers new teachers to invest in high-quality materials, create engaging literacy-rich environments, and apply research-based teaching strategies that foster children’s language and reading development.
“Through its dual focus on children and educator development, the Windsweep Farm Scholar Award represents a significant step forward in promoting high-quality early literacy practices at the Ruth Staples CDL, cultivating both confident young readers and skilled, reflective teachers,” Leeper Miller said.
The Windsweep Farm Scholar Award was made possible by generous philanthropic support from Pam and Rick Reinhardt, D.D.S., of Lincoln. The gift was made through the University of Nebraska Foundation.
Pam, who earned a bachelor’s degree in education from UNL in 1970, spent her career as an elementary school teacher.
“Children need the chance to fall in love with literature before they are taught the mechanics of reading,” the couple said. “We hope that our contribution will provide new early childhood educators with an added incentive to incorporate this emphasis in their careers. Reading aloud to children fosters empathy, strengthens attention spans and develops problem-solving skills.”
Tori Archuleta, a student teacher at Ruth Staples and inclusive early childhood education student in the College of Education and Human Sciences, was selected as the recipient of the 2026 Windsweep Farm Scholar Award. She was recognized for her dedication to fostering a love of early literacy in children and her continued growth as an early childhood educator who values and supports literacy learning.
“This experience has been incredibly meaningful, and I am excited for the opportunity to continue building on what I have learned and to use this in my future endeavors as an educator,” Archuleta said.
College of Education and Human Sciences
Child, Youth and Family Studies
Strong Communities
Thriving Young Children
