Keltouma Sahali, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in PreK-4 Education in May through the School of Education’s Working Professionals Program, was awarded the Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Teacher Award at First Up’s annual awards ceremony. 

Her award-winning project, titled “The Little Engineer,” emulates a construction site for children playing on the playground. In this activity, the children are encouraged to act like civil and mechanical engineers in order to promote their development, curiosity, and understanding of the world around them.

“Winning an award is beautiful and meaningful,” said Sahali, who previously earned her PreK-4 teacher certification in Algeria. “It makes me feel happy, and proud of the job well done, especially when the hard work and effort pay off, and it strengthens and boosts my self-confidence.”

The Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Teacher Awards recognize outstanding achievements of early care and education teachers from across the United States while bringing attention to the critical role these teachers play in the lives of young children.

Sahali’s impact can be felt by the families of the children who attend Green Byrne Child Care Center in Philadelphia, as Sahali has worked there full-time while earning her degree. She was also inducted into Phi Kappa Phi at this year’s Honors Convocation ceremony and earned a spot on the Dean’s list. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going out for picnics, traveling, and discovering new places.

Following her graduation this May, Sahali hopes to pursue a master’s degree in the field of early childhood education.