February 13, 2020 | Downers Grove, IL

Students from Midwestern University host a Valentine’s Day Dance for adults with developmental disabilities.

More than 50 Midwestern University students recently hosted a Valentine’s Dance on the Downers Grove Campus for approximately 150 clients from the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation (SEASPAR), the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA), and the West Chicago High School Best Buddies Program. The dance was organized by students in the Clinical Psychology Program and sponsored by the College of Health Sciences, the Office of Student Services, and the Clinical Psychology Program.

The dance is an annual tradition on the Downers Grove Campus and an opportunity for students to provide a service to the community while learning more about the diverse group of people they may encounter as future healthcare professionals. “The dance provides the student volunteers an opportunity to work with adults with developmental disabilities with whom they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to engage. The dance is a great deal of fun for both the attendees and the volunteers and will have a positive impact on the future practice of all student volunteers,” said Aubrey Iwanicki, M.A. (CHS-Downers Grove, 2024), a student in the Clinical Psychology Program and one of the organizers of the event.

Students from all the University’s academic programs including osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, dental medicine, optometry, and the health sciences are encouraged to participate in the event. “As Midwestern University students, we have the privilege and opportunity to impact the community around us, and in doing so, we can demonstrate the values held by the University to improve the lives of others. The Valentine’s Dance and other service opportunities available at Midwestern not only impact those who we serve, but they also have a lasting impact on the student's future practice and overall well-being,” Ms. Iwanicki added.