AC Regents approve new AC Medi Park Campus - Hagy Center for Young Children

The AAF Community Health Foundation is leasing the Hagy Center for Young Children to AC. This facility will be managed by the AC Child Development program and will serve as both a functioning childcare center, as well as, a lab space for AC students to receive hands-on experience in managing a childcare facility.

“The Hagy Center for Young Children will extend opportunities for our students to learn about the management of child care facilities,” said Mary Clare Munger, Education Department chair. “My vision for the space is that it will first serve our students by giving both a hands-on learning experience as well as help students to complete their education. The facility will serve our students on West Campus, providing excellent childcare while students are participating in clinical rotations at the hospitals.”

Under Munger’s guidance, the facility will be a learning space equipped for today’s child. The AC Education Department is a recipient of the Texas School Ready Grant, a program that strives to provide young children with opportunities to develop the necessary skills needed for school success. This grant will help fund curriculum design for the Hagy Center for Young Children.

“This will become a safe and beautiful space for kids to learn in,” said Munger. “The facility is within walking distance to both the Amarillo Botanical Gardens and the Don Harrington Discovery Center. There will be so many opportunities to build curriculum around these two facilities.”

The Hagy Center for Young Children will allow for more course offerings and practicum labs for AC students. Munger expects that the new facility will be a model space to help prepare students for real world experiences, as well as, serve the community by offering extended hours for childcare services.

In addition to AC students, the center plans to offer childcare services to employees working in the Harrington Regional Medical Campus, including employees of Northwest Texas Hospital, the Bivins Nursing Home, and others.

AC will take over the lease on March 1 to begin renovations. A soft opening of the facility is anticipated in June with a grand opening for the center to take place in August.