Little Brigham Aggies Holds Open House to Celebrate 20 Years

BRIGHAM CITY, Utah — Little Brigham Aggies recently celebrated its 20th anniversary as a licensed child care center with a community open house, bringing together families, students, university leaders and community members to recognize two decades of service.

The event highlighted the center’s role in supporting Utah State University students, regional staff and families across the broader Brigham City area. USU President Brad L. Mortensen and Jessica Oyler, the university’s chief of staff, attended the celebration, emphasizing institutional support for student success and family-focused programs.

Little Brigham Aggies was created due to a gap in child care access for students returning to school to complete their degrees. Limited child care options have created a significant barrier for many USU students. Since opening, the center has helped dozens of students remain enrolled, graduate and achieve their educational goals.

“Students can receive a reduced rate and can set their schedule to match their needs: class time, studying, exams and even work,” said Cheryl Preece-Smith, Little Brigham Aggies program coordinator. “Parents are allowed to tailor their child’s schedule to their individual needs and then change that each semester as their educational schedule changes.”

Little Brigham Aggies offers age-appropriate activities that support children in the many areas of early childhood development with highly trained staff and teachers.

“The value of the program affected me personally when I returned to USU as a student 10 years ago and required child care for my son,” said Kristen Walton, director of student services for the Brigham City Region. “With the support of Cheryl and the Little Brigham Aggies staff, I was confident that my son was safe and supported while I was managing my school schedule.”

The center is currently rated High Quality Plus by the State of Utah’s Child Care Quality System, a designation reflecting exceptional standards in instruction, staff training, curriculum, safety and child development. In addition, Little Brigham Aggies’ outdoor play garden is a Certified Nature Explore Classroom for its commitment to nature-based learning and environmental stewardship.

“Access to reliable and quality child care has been identified as a key factor in helping parents remain enrolled at USU and successfully graduate,” said Dan Black, USU associate vice president for the Brigham City Region. “When students have dependable child care, they are better able to stay focused on their education, leading to stronger career opportunities”

The open house featured a range of interactive activities for children and families, including games, crafts and visits from animals such as Sage from the USU Police Department’s K9 Unit. Attendees were also invited to contribute messages and items to a time capsule for future generations, while many former students shared stories reflecting the program’s impact.

Little Brigham Aggies, an early care and education center at Utah State University Brigham City, offers high-quality, inclusive care for the children of USU students, faculty and staff. For more information, visit brighamcity.usu.edu/little-brigham-aggies.

With two locations in Box Elder County, Utah State University Brigham City and Tremonton offer students the personalized attention and small class sizes of a small-town college with the resources of a large university. With more than 100 degree options ranging from associate to doctorate degrees, plus technical education offerings, USU offers programs that help fuel local economies and empower individuals and their communities. Learn more at brighamcity.usu.edu.