On a bright and beautiful Monday evening, August 18, nearly 400 people gathered at Harrington Elementary School for the Albion NAACP Back to School 2025 Grand Celebration. The school served as the location for an event that brought the entire community together to prepare students for the year ahead. Families arrived to meet teachers, tour classrooms, and pick up supplies, while outside the lawn became a festival of activity. The skies were blue, the weather was pleasant, and the excitement was unmistakable – children with new backpacks and fresh haircuts, parents connecting with resources, and neighbors greeting one another with smiles.
This celebration is one of the signature initiatives of the Albion Branch NAACP, part of its mission to help every Albion student, as long as they are residents, start the year strong. Leadership was visible throughout the evening. Superintendent Rebecca Jones of Marshall Public Schools attended alongside principals, City officials, and NAACP leaders. Several retired educators and administrators also joined in, a reminder that dedication to Albion’s students spans generations.
Outside, Harrington’s front lawn was filled with activity. Dozens of community groups set up tables beneath the shade of tall trees, while the school’s sign glowed with the message “Great Things are Happening Here.” Families gathered to learn about health services, after-school programs, and local opportunities – stopping at booths that stretched across the yard. Inside, the school was just as busy. Parents received information at the “Car Rider Info” station, students admired the display from the award-winning Harrington Redbots Lego robotics team, and children of all ages lined up for free haircuts from local barbers. For many, the fresh haircut and a new backpack marked the perfect beginning to another year of learning.
The evening also celebrated achievement beyond K–12. NAACP scholarship recipients were honored, each receiving $1,000 toward higher education. Their recognition underscored the event’s purpose: investing in the education of the next generation of Albion leaders.
The event’s success reflected a broad coalition of support. The five major sponsors and co-sponsors were the Albion NAACP, the Albion Community Foundation, the Albion Big Read, Men of Vision, and Play Right Sports. In addition to these main sponsors and co-sponsors, 23 more organizations hosted booths and contributed supplies as partners: Forks Senior Center, Scout Pack, Sister City Committee, the Fritz Shurmur Center for Teacher Development, Albion Community Gardens, Summit Pointe, Kellogg Community College – Eastern Academic Center, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. – Psi Kappa Omega Chapter, Head Start, Knauf Insulation, the Spicer-Williams Foundation, Starr Commonwealth, Grace Health, CareWell Services, Molina Healthcare, the Battle Creek YMCA, Bronson Hospital of Battle Creek, Henry Ford Allegiance, Oaklawn Hospital, the Calhoun County Public Health Department, Albion Health Care Alliance, and Sturgis Bank.
With such support behind them, Albion’s students began school on Wednesday, August 20, along with their peers across the Marshall Public Schools District. Families can already look forward to the first long weekend of the year when schools will close on Friday, August 29, and Monday, September 1, for the Labor Day holiday.
Harrington Elementary itself holds a special place in Albion’s educational story. Opened in 1957, it was named for Donald Harrington, superintendent of Albion schools from 1919 to 1939. Harrington was recognized for his leadership during a time of major growth and challenges. One hundred years ago, in 1922–23, he oversaw construction of the west wing at Washington Gardner High School, providing students of that era with new classrooms, science labs, and improved athletic facilities, including a gymnasium and a swimming pool. He also guided the district through the difficulties of the Great Depression. The school that bears Harrington’s name continues to honor that legacy, standing today as a symbol of leadership that invests in students, even during challenges, and a reminder of the Albion area’s lasting commitment to its children.
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