"Hi! I am Selena Brown. I love CEC for so many reasons. First, it has allowed me to immerse myself in the field of special education and network with current and future educators. I have learned so much from my peers and our guest speakers. It has also blessed me with the honor of getting to know and serve alongside some of the strongest and most passionate female student leaders at Grand Valley. My fellow e-board members make me proud to be a Laker and part of our student chapter. CEC has done so much for me during my time at Grand Valley. I joined the CEC e-board my freshmen year and have served in several positions since then. This opportunity on the e-board has allowed me to grow and develop my leadership skills as a Grand Valley student, but also as a future educator and leader of a classroom. More importantly, CEC has provided me with an amazing community of individuals who are passionate about education and the future leaders of our nation." January 16, 2018
"Hi! I'm Courtney Johnson. I love CEC because it allows you to gain so many insights on the world of education from a wide variety of perspectives that you would not normally get in classes. I love to be able to hear new ideas and strategies to use in my future classroom. Although this is my second year in CEC, I feel as though I have already gained so much knowledge from this organization, whether that be resume building strategies, or preparation to apply to the College of Ed. I love being part of something where I get to share a passion for teaching with so many others and I am so excited for the opportunities and knowledge that this organization will continue to give." January 22, 2018
"Hi! I'm Meredith Filter. I am a CSAT major with a focus in Special Education. This is my 4th year in CEC. I love CEC because I get to hear about new ideas in education and reflect on who I want to be as a teacher. CEC has allowed me to make connections and encouraged me to learn more about the world around me." January 3, 2018
"Hi! I'm Claudia Hoezee. I'm a CSAT major with Special Ed. + Elementary Ed. minors and my endorsements will be in Emotional Impairments and Learning Disabilities. I love CEC because it has allowed me to connect with other individuals who also have a deep passion for and experience with education. I absolutely love that we get to learn from not only each other but we have the amazing opportunity to ask questions and learn from professionals that have a variety of experiences and backgrounds. CEC has provided me with experiences to build my knowledge about how to serve students best and I'm constantly learning new things that will help me become the best educator I can be." January 23, 2018
"Hi! I'm Lauren Hogikyan. I love the Council for Exceptional Children because it advocates for students with disabilities by providing infinite resources working with this population in the United States. CEC provides so many wonderful opportunities, and I feel better prepared for my first job thanks to all these resources and opportunities mentioned. Just by being part of the student chapter, you gain so much knowledge and so many skills! I think I will always be a part of CEC. CEC has done so much for me. On one hand, it has given me bi-weekly (at least) opportunities to learn from professionals in the field of education. This knowledge gained is invaluable, and I leave each meeting feeling like I learned something new. This chance to consistently add things to my "teacher tool belt" will benefit me for years to come. In addition, CEC has connected me with wonderful peers who are passionate about education. I have been so lucky to be surrounded by such inspiring individuals throughout my time at Grand Valley!" January 15, 2018
"Hi! I'm Roxy VanderMolen. I am an Education and Math major with a minor in elementary certification. I love CEC because there is such a huge diversity of people and perspectives that have helped me grow as a future educator by getting to know others and discussing parts of the education system! CEC has opened my eyes to many new views and important concepts to understand and hold as a future educator!" January 8, 2018
"Hello! I'm Alyssa Vandenberg and studying Integrated Science and Elementary Education. CEC is an amazing organization that has helped me meet new people and will help me be a better teacher in the future. I am so excited to be part of the leadership for this semester!" January 25, 2018
"Hi! I'm Amber Gerrits. I love CEC for many reasons. I love serving on the E-board with a group of fantastic women and coordinating events together. I also love talking with all of the members and undergoing professional development with them. CEC has allowed me to make connections and relationships with several professionals in the field. I have also learned so much about a variety of topics related to education: disability, general education and special education teacher relationships, IEPs, yoga in the classroom, and overall how to best serve my future students." January 14, 2018
"Hi! I'm Abigail Margaret. This organization is full of passionate, kind, and inspiring education majors. I've loved having different experiences where I can hear new ideas, strategies, and information that will help me to become a more confident and excited future teacher. Having the opportunity for free professional development twice a month has been amazing! Also, having leadership experiences has helped me to find my passion in this organization." January 25, 2018
"Hi! I'm Jessica Golema. I love CEC because it allows me to learn things that I may not get a chance to hear about in class. It gives various perspectives, be it from parents, teachers, principals, etc. This variety keeps it interesting and allows for great networking opportunities! CEC has allowed me to practice holding a leadership position. Through that I have grown in my communication and presentation skills. CEC has also opened my eyes to the various possibilities we have in education. There are so many ways we can get involved and help students." January 25, 2018
"My name is Sam. My major is secondary English education and I am minoring in teaching English as a second language. I love CEC because we get to hear from so many different professionals in the field of education. I have learned so much about special education that I would not normally get to hear in my general education courses. I'm thankful that GVSU supports student organizations like this one!" January 25, 2018