Choice is one of the benefits of life in Western Wake. Pick any subject — housing, restaurants, entertainment — and an array of options are at your fingertips.

Increasingly, parents are discovering choices in education. Traditional or year-round calendar? Which school? And now, what learning style is right for each child?

We profile three different styles of education available here in For the Love of Learning.

One of the schools, White Plains Children’s Center, marked a milestone this weekend, celebrating its 30th anniversary with a program that brought together the school’s founders, graduates, parents, supporters and friends.

The school combines children with special needs and typically developing children in the same classroom to foster acceptance and enhance learning opportunities for all children.

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht gave a greeting at the start of the program. Tributes to the founders, students and parents were then offered by former students and staff members.

Kathleen Carter, chair of the board of directors at White Plains, laments that, “We probably only found one-fourth of the families, employees and teachers in prep for this event,” and invites anyone who has lost touch to contact the school. Still, more than 200 people were present for the party.

Some of White Plains’ graduates who spoke at the celebration are now in college. Stephen Qualls attends UNC-Greensboro, and Jamie Pritchett found her place at North Carolina State University. They give testament to their foundations at White Plains for preparing them for success.

Photo courtesy Thomas Babb, Babb Photography: White Plains Founders. Front row, left to right: Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, Sandy Sheppard, Fred Pippin, Faye Ballington. Back row, left to right: Bette Anne Stephenson, Babs Gallion, Vicki DeMaster. Not pictured: Rosemary Gaddy