PennAEYC 2017 VOICE for Children Award Dinner 

The VOICE for Children Celebration will feature a reception, dinner and a presentation of the 2017 VOICE for Children Award, Distinguished Career Award and Vision Award.

PennAEYC is very pleased to welcome Dr. Junlei Li, Co-Director, Fred Rogers Center and Rita M. McGinley Professor of Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College as Keynote Speaker for the 2017 VOICE for Children Celebration. 

The VOICE Award is the only statewide award in Pennsylvania recognizing the grassroots leaders whose work impacts the quality of care and education for young children in diverse settings. Now in its seventh year, the VOICE Award celebrates not only individual award recipients, but the early childhood profession.

We are honored to celebrate the accomplishments of five professionals who have demonstrated outstanding achievment and vision in advocating for high quality early learning opportunities in Pennsylvania.

The 2017 VOICE for Children Award will be presented to Sharon Neilson, Director of Woodland Academy Child Development Center a subsidiary of Greater Philadelphia Health Action Inc. Ms. Neilson received her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Masters Degree in Organization Leadership from Eastern University. In 2009, Ms.Neilson was recognized as the Keystone STARS Emergent Leader of the Year. She is widely recognized as a community leader for her involvement with the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children and National Black Child Development Institute. Ms. Neilson serves on the PA STARS re-visioning Think Tank Team and is active in the United Way Success By 6 initiative and has authored articles for the United Way publication Aiming High.

The 2017 VOICE for Children Award will be presented to Carol Wong, Owner-Director of Chinatown Learning Center, a bilingual preschool and afterschool program in Philadelphia. Ms. Wong received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Penn State University and her Masters of Early Childhood Education from West Chester University. She is a strong advocate and has made her voice heard on behalf early childhood with a particular focus on immigrant and non-English speaking families. Ms. Wong is a community leader and champion for children serving in leadership roles for various organizations supporting women and children including Community College of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children and the Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.

The 2017 Distinguished Career Award will be presented to Dr. Jane Keat, Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Education, Chair, Teacher Education. Dr. Keat is a highly respected researcher and advocate in Early Childhood. She began her professional experience as a teacher in a faith-based early education program for nearly twenty years. Dr. Keat's research interests emerged from her belief that learning and teaching best occurs when integrated, authentic and simultaneous. She is a published author and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Research on Childhood Education. Dr. Keat has been a member of numerous state task forces, work groups and committees related to the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning. 

The 2017 Distinguished Career Award will be presented to Dr. James E. Johnson, Professor, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, College of Education, Department of Curriculum. Dr. Johnson is highly respected in the field of Early Education as a researcher, educator and author. He is widely recognized for his extensive work in the area of play research and has published countless books and journals including Approaches to Early Education now in its 6th edition. Dr. Johnson is a long time advocate and spokesperson for the importance of play. He is recognized for his service to Centre County Council for Human Services and has received the Brian Sutton-Smith Play Scholar Award among many others.  

The 2017 Vision Award will be presented to Secretary John Wetzel, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Secretary Wetzel has demonstrated vision and dedication to children and families through his support for high quality early education. He has been an advocate for children and supports investments in early education recognizing the link between education and incarceration rates. Secretary Wetzel has been instrumental in the development of special visiting environments for inmate mothers and their young children. His vision is carried out through special resource areas and interventions in prisons across Pennsylvania.