Campbellsville University

Pinwheels placed on Stapp Lawn for National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Pinwheels placed on Stapp Lawn for National Child Abuse Prevention Month

By Chosalin Morales | 04/28/2022

Those placing pinwheels on Stapp Lawn in honor of Child Abuse Awareness Month were from left: Front row — Dr. Anne Adcock, Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett, Kalon Moody, Mary Ann Goble and Rachel Ford. Second row — Tim Judd, vice president for finance; Dr. Joseph Hopkins, president; Dr. Helen Mudd, Dr. DeNika VanCleave, Dr. Michelle Tucker, dean of the Carver School of Social Work; Kelly Joplin, Dr. Dianna Cooper, Dr. Khara Kinkade and Dr. Candace Hansford. Third row — Jenny Houk, Cindy Colyer, Dr. Renee Sartin. Fourth row — Neil Caldwell. (Campbellsville University Photo by Michael Hodges)

By Chosalin Morales, student news writer and photographer, Office of University Communications

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.— “We come out here every April as a department to show our support for our children. Setting up these pinwheels brings awareness to the cause and represents our commitment to ending child abuse,” said Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett, associate professor of Social Work at Campbellsville University, as she and the Carver School of Social Work set blue pinwheels on Stapp Lawn April 20 to commemorate Child Abuse Awareness Month.

“It's a reminder across the state of Kentucky and our community that if you see something, say something,” Mudd-Fegett said. “As social workers, Carver School of Social Work, members of the community and as a university, we want to show that we can do more for our children.”

The blue pinwheel, a national symbol of child abuse prevention, represents the childhood all children deserve.

“It's easy to put your blinders on and think that it doesn't impact me, until it does impact you,” Mudd-Fegett said. “It's easy to say that it's not going to happen to me, to my family, or someone we know, but it does, and it can happen. Most of the time our kids are hurt by people they might know.”

According to Mudd-Fegett, in the year 2021, the Commonwealth of Kentucky saw a 20 percent increase of child fatalities.

“These statistics are our call to action as a community, university and state. We as individuals should all strive to protect the innocent lives of children across our state. Let this simple royal blue pinwheel serve as your call to action if you suspect child maltreatment always take the necessary steps to report,” Mudd-Fegett said.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that has enrolled up to 12,000 students yearly. The university offers over 100 programs of study including doctoral, masters, bachelors, associate and certification programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.