April is Month of the Young Child: Children’s Enrichment Center inspires a love of learning

To foster its community, the CEC partners with a variety of campus departments.

For example, students in a health and physical education class regularly observe a preschool classroom, then host young Lakers at the Fieldhouse to work on movement activities. Through a partnership with the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance, children participate in developmentally appropriate dance activities. The School of Communications gives presentations and creates activities about various health topics for older children.

Each class is taught by a lead teacher and supported by 20 undergraduate students from a variety of majors.

"Majors like nursing, medicine, psychology and social work are certainly child-centered. We find these varying perspectives bring our students a better education," said Korte.

LoFiego said she enjoys seeing how much the children grow in the span of a year. Her time at the CEC has influenced her plans to attend graduate school and become a pediatric physician assistant.

"I've always wanted to do something involving kids. As I got older, I realized that I also wanted to do something in the medical field," she said.

- Sofia Ellis, a senior majoring in writing, is a student writer for University Communications.