Milligan college ACEI sweeps branch awards

Childhood Education, 2003 by Gardner, Marilyn B

And the Winner Is . . .

Best Fundraiser Award was presented to Milligan College Guiding Young Children, ACEI Branch, for publishing a cookbook. Milligan alumni, current teachers who are Branch members, faculty, and students were contacted to submit recipes for the cookbook. Branch members typed and organized the recipes. Then they held a "Cookbook Parry," with current and prospective ACEI members, to assemble the book. They served refreshments and had fun working together, but their work had just begun. They developed a marketing plan and sold the ACEI Branch Cookbook for $5, earning nearly $200 for Branch service projects. The cookbook can be purchased by contacting Linda C. Boyer, Adviser, at lcboyer@milligan.edu.

Best Children's Event/Community Service Award

The Best Children's Event/Community Service Award also went to Milligan College ACEI. Their project, "Homework Cans," was funded from cookbook sales and a bake sale. They collected 25 large vegetable cans, covered them with contact paper, and topped them with duct tape for safety and durability. At their service project meeting, Branch members covered the cans with contact paper, glued magnets onto die-cut letters, numbers, and shapes, and sorted the sets into individual cans. On December 4, 2002, the Branch gathered at their Education Center and carpooled to the Kingsport Boys and Girls Club. When they arrived, they met with the after-school program children to demonstrate how to use these unique Homework Cans. They taught the older children how to assist younger children with the manipulatives, enhancing learning of their addresses and phone numbers, and building shape identification. Additional skills were demonstrated by using the letters to construct spelling words and the numbers to construct math problems. The children and the director of the Kingsport Boys and Girls Club were very appreciative. The cans are in daily use, helping these after-school program children enhance learning in a meaningful way.

Best Communications Award

The Best Communications Award was presented to Milligan College ACEI Branch for their use of stationery, note cards, and a newsletter to increase Branch exposure and develop Branch membership. The communication tools display their Branch logo and ACEI affiliation. The Branch newsletter is published once each semester to communicate with current and prospective members. It describes recent activities, programs, and helpful information regarding ACEI membership. To keep recent graduates informed about the Branch, a copy of the newsletter is sent to them as well. The newsletter is also used to enhance membership. Copies are available for anyone to pick up in their CASE Teacher Education Center. Active members use the newsletter to give to friends and new students as an incentive for membership. The most recent copy is also displayed on the ACEI Branch bulletin board in the Faculty Office Building as a demonstration of how proud the members are of their ACEI Branch.

The Awards were presented at the ACEI Annual Business Meeting during the Conference in Phoenix. Congratulations to the officers and members of Milligan College Guiding Young Children Branch.

-Marilyn B. Gardner, Director of Membership