What began as a temporary space-sharing solution has evolved into a powerful partnership that is bridging generations, strengthening communities, and transforming lives.
When the Butler Tech Bioscience Center entered its construction phase, principal Dr. Abbie Cook reached out to the Boys and Girls Club of West Chester/Liberty to explore creative ways for students to continue hands-on learning. At first, it seemed the natural connection would be between Butler Tech students and the younger children who come to the Club for after-school programs. However, an unexpected opportunity emerged through the West Chester Senior Coalition, a group of more than 120 active members who gather weekly at the Club for wellness, recreation, and connection. That surprise connection has become one of the most rewarding and meaningful collaborations yet.
Now, Exercise Science students spend part of each week engaging with seniors in activities like chair volleyball, stretching, nutrition discussions, and even arts and crafts. What began as an opportunity to share classroom skills has become a source of joy, laughter, and learning for everyone involved.
“Our students aren’t just learning about health and wellness. They’re building relationships that matter,” said Leslie Fisher, Exercise Science Instructor at the Bioscience Center. “They didn’t realize how much they’d have in common with the seniors, and it’s been amazing to see the friendships that have formed.”
For senior Kendall Harrell, the experience has been eye-opening and energizing. “It’s something fun and different, a breath of fresh air,” she said. “The seniors get rowdy sometimes, but that just makes it more fun. It’s cool to see them feel younger and more connected, and it reminds us why we love what we’re doing.”
Harrell added that the experience has also taught her valuable soft skills. “We’ve learned a lot about communication, listening, patience, and teamwork. These are things that go beyond the classroom.”
Classmate Hailey Irvin agreed, noting that the intergenerational interaction has strengthened both her personal and professional skills. “It’s something we all look forward to,” Irvin said. “It brings our class closer together and helps us bond. We’ve learned so much from the seniors, even fun things like line dancing, and I can’t wait for the nutrition unit where we’ll swap healthy recipes.”
This fall, the students will lead a shared cooking project, helping seniors explore simple, healthy meals for one or two people while collecting their favorite recipes to create a collaborative community cookbook. “Our students are gaining so much confidence from being the teachers,” Fisher explained. “But the learning goes both ways. The seniors are sharing life experiences and lessons with the students that many aren’t getting elsewhere.”
The relationships have grown so strong that when the students aren’t there, the seniors ask about them. “They really miss the energy and connection the students bring,” said Damon Knoche, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club. “You can see how much they brighten each other’s days. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.”
What began as a simple collaboration has become a model for community-based learning. Butler Tech and the Boys and Girls Club plan to continue growing the partnership by involving more programs, with thoughts of involving programs such as Firefighting Technology students to teach fire safety, Auto Tech students to lead maintenance demonstrations, and Teacher Pathway students for mentoring youth after school.
Knoche envisions the Boys and Girls Club as a community hub where generations learn, play, and serve together. Future ideas include developing a community garden that could provide produce for shared meals or donations to local food banks, all while giving students and seniors meaningful work-based learning opportunities. “The sky’s the limit,” Knoche said. “When people come together around purpose, everyone benefits: our youth, our seniors, and our community.”
Dr. Cook said this partnership perfectly reflects Butler Tech’s mission of transforming lives through education. “Our students are developing professional skills, but they’re also growing as people,” she said. “They’re learning empathy, communication, and the joy of connecting with others, lessons that will stay with them long after graduation.”
For the Exercise Science students, the experience has done more than prepare them for future careers. It has reminded them of the power of human connection. As Harrell put it, “You don’t realize how much you can learn from someone until you take the time to listen.”