Pittsburg State University Early Childhood Student Organization

The Early Childhood Student Organization (established in 1997) is a student organization at Pittsburg State University dedicated to those who wish to work with young children and their families.  The goal of ECSO is to provide professional development, leadership, and social opportunities for individuals interested in early childhood related fields.  The great variety of activities and events in which our members are involved makes this an outstanding way to spend time while pursuing your degree at Pitt State.

Membership in ECSO is $15 per semester or $20 per academic year.  Membership fees contribute to lunch for the monthly meetings and other ECSO projects.  We hold monthly lunch meetings that cover a variety of topics and activities related to the field of early childhood.  We welcome everyone to follow our Facebook page, PSU Early Childhood Student Organization. 

Current Officers:

·       President—Samantha Fritts Brown

·       Vice President—Gwendolyn Badgley

·       Secretary—Tasha Dawson

·       Treasurer—Andie Casper

ECSO Advisors:

Ms. Kari Cronister, M.S., Supervising Lead PSU Preschool Teacher

Dr. Amber Tankersley, Associate Professor, Early Childhood Development, Family & Consumer Sciences & Preschool Lab Director

ECSO enjoys projects that help promote the early childhood profession and/or benefit children and families in local communities.  Service activities that ECSO has participated in include: Holiday Toy and Pajama Drives, Book drive for Educare (Alliance for SWMO), PSU PITT Crew—Kid’s athletic booster club, Bowling for Kids’ Sake—Big Brothers and Big Sisters, World Food Day--Food Drive for the PSU Food Pantry, The Big Event , PSU Safe Trick-or-Treat, Ronald McDonald House Donations, FCS Student Recognition Ceremony, Children’s Haven Donations, NAEYC Week of the Young Child, and we provide a raffle basket for the KAEYC annual conference.   

Each year ECSO participates in various fundraising projects to raise money for members to attend the NAEYC annual conference.  We also apply for funds through our Student Government Association to help offset the expenses involved for students attending the conference.  Students attending the conference typically have expenses related to lodging, conference registration, and travel covered through fundraising efforts of the entire organization.  We feel that student attendance at a national conference is a very worthwhile experience.  After the conference the student attendees present about their experience at our last meeting of the semester/year. 

Submitted by Amber Tankersley

This post is part of a series from AEYC chapters and ECE student organizations in Kansas. If you would like to submit to the KansasAEYC blog on behalf of an organization, please contact Chelsea Mitchell at email.kansas.aeyc@gmail.com.