Regional campus early childhood and elementary education majors gather for annual EdFest event

Regional campus early childhood education majors gather at OHIO Chillicothe

��ý regional campus sophomore early childhood education majors gathered for the fourth annual EdFest, sponsored by the Patton College of Education, on Friday, Oct. 3, at .

More than 90 education students from all five regional campuses — Chillicothe, , , , and — participated in team-building activities designed to strengthen relationships and foster engagement both in and out of the classroom. The education faculty developed EdFest in 2022 to enhance student engagement and community-building.

Students connected and collaborated through interactive activities, games, and challenges.

"We began EdFest to build community among the early childhood and elementary education students from our five regional campuses,” said Dr. Amy Wolfe, associate professor of education at ��ý Chillicothe. "These students share career goals and experiences as future educators. EdFest allows them to support each other and build lasting relationships that extend beyond their courses.”

Dr. Lisa Harrison, dean of the Patton College of Education, encouraged the assembled students to take advantage of the opportunity to make connections that will serve them in their teaching careers.

“Teaching is a noble profession, and I want you to realize that you all represent inherently what's best about ��ý,” Harrison said. “You are future educators who are going to make deep, profound impacts in your local communities.”

Students appreciated the opportunity to gather and connect with other OHIO education majors.

“It’s great getting to meet and socialize with peers who share similar goals,” said Sophie Simonton, an education major at OHIO Chillicothe. “We are meeting people we may have had online classes with, but have never seen in person, and we get to have hands-on experience outside the classroom.”

Senior education major Jordan Watkins volunteered to help with EdFest and said getting to participate once again in EdFest helped her reflect on and recognize the importance of leveraging connections and resources.

Those connections can be key for the students as they work toward their degrees and begin their careers.

“EdFest helps our regional campus students build a stronger sense of belonging and a better Bobcat identity,” said Debra Dunning, professor of instruction at OHIO Lancaster. “When our students feel a sense of connection and belonging, they connect better with the Bobcat community and networks in our state and beyond.”