WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 26, 2015 — Twice a year the West Liberty University Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children hosts a Fitness and Fun Day for area student with special needs. For this free event, local school students with all types of disabilities come to the West Liberty campus for a day of physical activities, art, and educational projects, according to Assistant Professor of Special Education Sarah Schimmel.
Most recently, on Thursday, Oct. 22, a total of 175 elementary students and more than 50 teachers and paraprofessionals donned official Fitness and Fun Day shirts and arrived on campus for the educational event.
WLU students of the College of Education coordinated and ran the exercise stations. Also, additional WLU students were assigned as a mentor to each school student with special needs who attended. These mentors guide the visiting students through the scheduled events.
Visitors also were provided lunch in the Marketplace cafeteria, located in Rogers Hall and operated by Sodexo food services.
“The experience gained by the WLU students is priceless, and the experience for the young students with special needs is memorable as well,” said Schimmel.
“Our faculty and students are to be commended for this incredible event,” commented Dean Dr. Keely Camden.
“Sarah Schimmel does an outstanding job coordinating this project with the help of Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education Kathleen Wack, Professor of Elementary Education Dr. Judy Stechly and others. I would like to extend a sincere thank-you for all of their work.”
The WLU Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children is a student affiliate of both the West Virginia and national councils for exceptional children. Other projects it has been involved with include Special Olympics, field days and conferences.