Dec. 13, 2010 | With a dozen red stocking caps bobbing, a group of 3- and 4-year-olds from the Southwest Head Start site in Little Rock gathered anxiously outside UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn’s office door.

“Would you look at that!” said an amused Rahn as the carolers prepared to spread their holiday cheer. “This is really something … but I forgot my hat!”

The carolers made their way through several popular Christmas tunes, leading off with a spirited take on “Jingle Bell Rock” before including “Must Be Santa” and concluding with “Jingle Bells.” A crowd of other UAMS employees slowly gathered and some even joined in the signing.

The group, led by Site Manager Wanda Bradford-Corney, then presented Rahn with an oversized Christmas card decorated in their holiday-colored handprints. They also passed out candy canes and high-fived any takers.

“If I wasn’t in the holiday spirit before, I surely am now,” Rahn said. “Thank you so much for singing to us and spreading your holiday cheer.”

UAMS runs the Head Start-Early Head Start program in Pulaski County under director Mary Kaye McKinney. The 22 locations serve 1,178 students from low-income homes. Head Start offers health, education and social services to its students.

The caroling is now a decade-long tradition at UAMS during the holiday season.