Celebrating Generations of Success: Children’s Learning Centers Honors Preschool and UH Graduates
DSA News
June 02, 2025
On Friday, May 16, the University of Houston Children’s Learning Centers (CLC) celebrated a milestone that goes beyond the traditional cap and gown — a joyful preschool graduation marking the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
This year’s ceremony holds special meaning as CLC commemorates its 50th year of serving Cougar families. For five decades, the Center has been a foundational part of the UH community, nurturing generations of learners — many of whom return to campus as students, staff, or proud UH alumni.
A Legacy of Learning
The CLC preschool graduation has become a cherished tradition for families and staff alike. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, CLC invited families to reflect on their children’s journeys. What emerged was a powerful story of generational achievement.
One family shared a touching image of their daughter — now a UH graduate — holding her preschool graduation portrait from CLC while dressed in her university cap and gown. Two CLC alumni recently graduated together from the UH College of Optometry in 2025. Another former CLC student, now a UH undergraduate, returned last spring to work in his old classroom as a student employee.
“These stories showcase the impact of early childhood education in shaping a lifelong love of learning,” said Jennifer Skopal, director of the Children’s Learning Centers. “They also highlight the powerful role CLC plays in supporting UH student parents as they pursue their degrees.”
Celebrating Families, Together
This year’s graduation included two very special preschoolers whose parents also graduated from UH this spring — a shared milestone that brought families' full circle.
Jaylene Park (5) began at CLC in January 2020 as an infant. Her sister, Jasmine, graduated from the Center in 2021. Their mother, Junghwa Park, completed her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from UH in 2022 and her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2025. Junghwa’s dedication to both her family and academic pursuits is a powerful example of the Cougar spirit.
Read more about Junghwa Park's academic journey
Luna De Leon (5) joined CLC in May 2022 as a toddler. Her mother, Betsaida “Betsy” De Leon, earned a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from UH this May, while her father, Juan Jose “JJ” De Leon, completed a Bachelor of Business Administration and was commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps — both proud 2025 graduates and student parents.
Supporting Student Success, One Family at a Time
The Children’s Learning Centers are a vital part of the Division of Student Affairs, offering quality, affordable early childhood education to UH families. The Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Cognia and holds a prestigious 4-star certification from Texas Rising Star (TRS).
Student parents are given priority of enrollment and access to tuition assistance programs, allowing them to focus on academics with peace of mind.
“Having peace of mind is what we hear most from our student parents,” said Skopal. “They can focus on their academics knowing their children are close by and learning in a safe environment. As a department within the Division of Student Affairs, supporting both CLC and UH student success is at the heart of our mission. When we celebrate a child’s and parent’s graduation simultaneously, it brings us such joy. Congratulations to the Class of 2025.”
Germaine Washington, Director of Marketing and Communications – Student Affairs