Courtesy Photo | Child and Youth Services staff members visit students in the 4K Strong Beginnings...... read more read more
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Several employees with Fort McCoy’s Child and Youth Services (CYS) received the CYS Award of Excellence for their roles in developing a 4K Strong Beginnings graduation ceremony during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May 2020, Fort McCoy CYS programs were closed and gatherings of more than 10 people were prohibited due to COVID-19 prevention measures. Because of this, the 2020 Strong Beginnings class could not have a traditional graduation ceremony.
CYS employees wanted to help students celebrate this milestone in their educations in a safe and responsible way. They developed the idea of a drive-by graduation ceremony. Teachers and CYS managers equipped a van with balloons, a sound system, and posters and drove more than 400 miles total to visit all 21 students in the 2020 4K Strong Beginnings class to celebrate in their front yards.
“The thing I remember most was the reactions of the children, said Megan Humphrey, program associate (pre-kindergarten) with the Child Development Center (CDC). “Some were shy and hid behind their parents where others would come out yelling in excitement because we showed up at their house honking, celebrating, and playing loud music. We even had one little boy so excited that he danced from the moment we arrived to the moment we left.”
Humphrey said the students and families really appreciated the effort that went into giving the children a special day, in spite of the pandemic.
“One family had a ‘Thank You’ written in chalk on their driveway while many of the other families recorded the event to share with others,” she said.
The special event took a lot of extra work, but CYS staff members said it was worth it to make the students feel special.
“The results may not be directly measurable at this time, but the impact this event will have on the students will be felt throughout their lives,” said Patric McGuane, director of the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation in the nomination memorandum. “Our CYS team has gone above and beyond to make sure each distinguished graduate was recognized and shown how important they are.”
CDC employees Humphrey; Derek Hunter, child and youth program assistant; Shawn Eckelberg, child and youth program assistant; Angela Kast, facility director; and Cindy Storkel, trainer, as well as retired CDC Director Ann Boegler, received plaques, lapel pins, and certificate for their roles in the drive-by graduation ceremony. The awards were presented May 25 by Garrison Commander Col. Michael Poss during a DFMWR-wide training and briefing session.
The CYS Award of Excellence is an Installation Management Command-level award that recognizes exceptional achievements in child and youth programs. Nominations are open to anyone who makes a difference in CYS programs, including employees, volunteers, and service members.
CYS provides programs and services for children of eligible military and civilian families. CYS offers full-time, part-time, or hourly child care; before-/after-school care; camps; programs for middle school and teen youth; instructional classes; workforce preparation opportunities; and sports and fitness activities.
For more information on CYS programs at Fort McCoy, visit https://mccoy.armymwr.com/programs/cys.
| Date Taken: | 06.09.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2021 15:11 |
| Story ID: | 398499 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fort McCoy CDC employees receive award for drive-by graduation, by Aimee Malone, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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