‘Gather, laugh and be together’

EMS courtyard dedicated to Travis Eloff’s legacy of inclusion

EPHRATA — A space originally created to bring students together through inclusive play and learning now carries a deeper meaning at Ephrata Middle School. On May 8, the Ephrata School District formally dedicated the school’s inclusive courtyard playground to Travis Eloff, a teacher and special education director who served the district for 31 years. Eloff passed away in 2024. Family members, colleagues and community members gathered to honor Eloff’s legacy and the impact he made on generations of students. District officials said his work was grounded in a belief that inclusion is more than a location.