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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (August 27, 2003)— The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) has named the Milligan College’s ‘Guiding Young Children Student Branch’ of ACEI as a recipient of a 2003 Branch Excellence Award. The branch is sponsored by Milligan’s teacher education program and includes students who are pursuing teaching licensure.
The Branch Excellence Awards are presented annually to ACEI branches that distinguish themselves in the areas of management, membership recruitment, editorial contributions and community service.
“This year’s winners of the Branch Excellence Awards went far beyond the minimum requirements,” said Marilyn Gardner, ACEI director of membership and marketing. “The officers and advisers excelled at providing leadership in their branches and service to their communities. ACEI is very pleased to present Milligan College’s ‘Guiding Young Children Branch’ with this award.”
Milligan’s branch was also awarded the 2003 ACEI Best Children’s Event/Community Service Award, the Best Fundraiser Award and the Best Communications Award from the ACEI in 2003.
Projects that the Guiding Young Children Student Branch participated in included: working with the local Boys & Girls Club, publishing and developing a marketing plan for a Milligan College cookbook, holding community fundraisers, presenting guest speakers on education issues, and honoring Happy Valley Elementary School during the Week of the Classroom Teacher.
The 2003 ACEI Best Children’s Event/Community Service Award was received for the branch’s “Homework Helper Cans” that are still in use. Members collected large cans and created die-cut letters, numbers and shapes that were then glued to magnets. Using these materials, older children at the Kingsport Boys & Girls Club were taught how to assist younger children in learning their addresses and phone numbers and identifying shapes.
The Best Fundraiser Award was for a Milligan College cookbook that included recipes submitted by current teachers who are Branch members, faculty and students. The Best Communications Award was awarded to the Milligan branch for their use of stationary, note cards, and a newsletter to develop Branch membership.
Founded in 1892, ACEI promotes the inherent rights, education and well-being of children in homes, schools and communities. ACEI publishes Childhood Education and the Journal of Research in Childhood Education, and is a United Nations Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that advocates for the Convention on the Rights of the Child. ACEI administers the program review process for institutions seeking national accreditation in elementary education.
“Milligan’s education department is committed to nurturing and developing caring and reflective teachers who reflect continually on their practice in search of excellence, and who care deeply about the students and families they serve,” said Linda Boyer, assistant professor of education and ACEI branch adviser at Milligan College.
Milligan’s undergraduate teacher education program offers preparation for professional teaching licensure in early childhood, middle grades, secondary, and selected K-12 specialty fields. Milligan also offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) program, which can be completed in as little as 15 months. Both programs are fully approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and accredited by NCATE, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (2010 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036; 202.466.7496).
For more information, please 800.262.8337.