July 1, 2016
For Immediate Release

By Linda Waggener

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Mission trips for Campbellsville University's 2015-16 academic year began with the new year during the holidays, continued on spring break and many are in progress this summer as students, faculty and staff serve all around the world — from Campbellsville University to Thailand to New Mexico, from China to Belize. Reports are run as they come in and three are shared here.

Belize: Thirteen School of Education students and faculty accompanied by ten Social Work students and faculty traveled to Belize over spring break as part of a Service Learning and Field Experience project.

The group raised funds in order to bring 23 extra pieces of luggage filled with clothes and materials to give to orphanages, and educational supplies and equipment to give to schools in Belize.

The education group provided a two-day workshop for early childhood teachers and prayed together for their schools and country. The group worshipped with Baptist Churches in Belize.

Three student teachers stayed an extra week to teach in a Mayan preschool classroom, where they were able to donate Christian Bible materials for the children.

Partly as a result of these efforts and meetings with the Ministry of Education, Campbellsville University has been invited to participate in a five-year grant received by Belize from UNESCO to provide higher education programs for early childhood teachers in the nation.

China: In May Dr. Sharon Hundley, associate professor of education and chair of early childhood education; Dr. Lisa Allen, associate professor of special education; and Lorrie Hiatt, adjunct instructor in  traveled to China at the request and funding of the Xinhua Publishing Group to provide early childhood lectures to preschool/kindergarten teachers in the GuangXi region.

Faculties and staff from School of Education visit China for a mission trip.

The CU School of Education faculty and instructors also met with various preschool groups to draft opportunities for increased training and collaboration efforts. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed with Hebei Normal University for Nationalities pending approval that would bring cohorts of 60 Chinese early childhood baccalaureate degree students to Campbellsville University to complete their final year at Campbellsville University and see CU faculty teach seven courses in China.

One other potential project will bring Chinese high school graduates to Campbellsville University to earn an associate degree in Early Childhood Education.

“The impact of our ESL and ECE teachers in China is evident. Education leaders appreciate the spirit of kindness CU people shower upon their children,” said Dr. H. Keith Spears, vice president for communication and assistant to the president. “We remain vigilant to uphold the mission of education, yet the spiritual feedback we receive is sincere.”

New Mexico: CU's School of Theology and Carver School of Social Work went on missions to New Mexico in May. They had the honor of meeting with leaders of the Tribal Council of the Navajo Nation at Window Rock, Ariz. Window Rock is the equivalent of Washington, D.C. of the Navajo Nation.

Students from School of Theology and Carver School of Social Work on a mission trip in New Mexico.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering over 80 programs of study including 24 master's degrees, seven postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.