Centre students provide personal education to local youth

RELEASED: September 27, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Education majors at Centre are passing on the College's promise of personal education to local fourth and fifth graders in an academic enrichment program called Learning is Fun Together (LIFT).

"The program seeks to provide positive role models for youth, enhance Centre students’ sensitivity and personal development, as well as provide education majors an opportunity to test educational theory," says Donna Plummer, associate professor of education.

Centre education majors prepare and direct educational activities focused on a theme each term. This term the theme is fairy tales and has students multiplying groups of fairies, learning new vocabulary words in folkloric tales, and creating art inspired by their favorite mythological creatures. Along the way, student volunteers guide their efforts as both educators and friends.

Michelle Mattingly '08 says, "The students love 'going to college' and truly benefit from the experience of having quality one-on-one time with the college volunteers."

Clare Kaltenbach '08 agrees. "LIFT plants the small seed that can encourage students to continue on their educational journey towards eventually obtaining a college degree."

For many volunteers, LIFT began as an opportunity to serve the community, but they quickly find that this particular brand of service has incredible returns.

"LIFT is an outlet that benefits others," says Eric Wilson '08, "There's no end to what you can learn from teaching kids."

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.