By Linda Waggener, assistant director of university communications

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Three hundred Head Start students are swimming under the direction of Dr. John Mark “Doc” Carter, professor of recreation and aquatics at Campbellsville University, this semester.

The students, from a five-county region of Central Kentucky, Adair, Casey, Green, Russell and Taylor, are involved in the Campbellsville University Academic Aquatics Management Minor Program.

“Since 1998,” Carter said, “I estimate that about 2,500 Head Start children have experienced one-on-one teaching with CU students in the aquatics environment. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for preschoolers in Kentucky, and this program helps young children begin the process of becoming safer in the water.”

The university students enrolled in the HP 391 Adapted Physical Education this spring teaching Head Start children as part of their academic lab (on selected Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. this semester) are: Kathleen “Karrie” Anderson, of Campbellsville, Ky.; Ryan Baumgartner of Muncie, Ind.; Vickie Cain of Russell Springs, Ky.; Benjamin Conner of Greensburg, Ky.; Chad Deaton of Charlestown, Ind.; Shajuana “Dotto” Ditto of Brandenburg, Ky.; Eric Doane of Mascot, Tenn.; Winston Dumas of Lexington, Ky.; Greg Fountain of Owensboro, Ky.; Krista Hisle of Nicholasville, Ky.; Weston Jones of Campbellsville, Ky.; Joe Manning of Paris, Ky.; Ken McAlpine of Columbia, Ky.; Derek Shelton of Magnolia, Ky., and Holly Wood of Campbellsville.

CU students enrolled in the HP 340 Water Safety Instructor / Lifeguard Training Instructor class (lecture at 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and lab at 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) who use the 11 a.m. lab on selected Mondays and Wednesdays to teach the Head Start children, are as follows: Jamie Avery of Edmonton, Ky., Luke Beling of East London, South Africa; Eric Doane, Sarah Melton of Campbellsville; Esther Middlekauff of Barnegat, N.J.; Ashley Petty of Elkorn, Ky.; Misty Tarbet of Campbellsville and Katie Thompson of Lufkin, Texas. Student lab assistants who are already nationally certified instructors are: Karrie Anderson, Troy Bryant of Louisville, Ky., and Jazz Murphree of Hardinsburg, Ky.

Student lab assistants who are already nationally certified instructors are: Karrie Anderson, Troy Bryant and Jazz Murphree, said Carter.

Campbellsville University began a partnership between Campbellsville University and the Lake Cumberland Area Head Start when Carter came to CU to teach in 1980.

He brought experience from his years in North Carolina at Wingate University and developed the academic aquatics management minor and two courses in this academic minor which lent themselves to teaching Head Start children as fulfillment of course objectives.

Carter said, “I am grateful to God that I am able to carry on the university/Head Start partnership from Wingate University in North Carolina to Campbellsville University.”

Carter is in his 27th year of working with Head Start children and the Head Start federal program.

Visitors from surrounding counties and their teachers include: Russell County — Russell Springs Head Start led by Carolyn Collins and Jamestown Head Start by Pennie Owens;

Adair County — Head Start led by Connie Chapman, Mike Scott, Kay Nelson and Anita Wethington;

Green County — Head Start led by Margaret Tucker, Sherry Pickett, Maxine Judd and Mardina Compton;

Casey County — Head Start led by Shelley Wesley and Misty Cravens;

Taylor County — Head Start led by Bonnie Webster, Sandy Cash and Connie Lee (home base); Kelly Spoon (Taylor County Middle School), Karen Benningfield (Taylor County Elementary) and Tammy Sluder (Family Advocate);

Campbellsville — Head Start led by Deneisa Beckley, Nina Underwood, and Betty Seals, Wynita Young (Campbellsville Middle School) and Judy Pickerill (Campbellsville Elementary).

For more information about the acquatics management minor at Campbellsville University, contact Carter at (270) 789-5260.

Campbellsville University, now celebrating her Centennial year, is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S. News & World Report's “America's Best Colleges” 14 consecutive years as one of the leading Southern master's colleges and universities, Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his eighth year as president.