East Central University’s chapter of the Student Oklahoma Education Association (SOEA) helped provide Christmas gifts for students at Ada High School.
“Many people take the time to help with ‘Angel Tree’ gifts for elementary students, but they often forget that our older students like to be remembered at Christmas as well,” said Paula Keady, executive director of academics and instruction for Ada City Schools.
Members of ECU’s SOEA chapter, along with faculty and staff members of the Education/Athletic Departments not only collected t-shirts and clothing for the students, they also planned fundraisers and donated money so the Ada High counselors would be able to purchase gifts for the students.
Matt McGaha, instructor of kinesiology and education at ECU, along with Dr. Nanette Schmitt, assistant professor of education at ECU, were instrumental in developing a partnership with the Ada City Schools that has allowed the building of programs to benefit the community, according to Keady.
“It should be noted that SOEA Officers Leena Vupulla, Diego Cifuentes and Kristina Mayfield also worked diligently on behalf of the students of Ada High School,” Keady said. “It is gratifying to think that they are future students.”
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