Dr. Agnes Plenk, founder of the Children’s Center was honored for her outstanding, longtime service to children by inducting him into the Utah Children’s Hall of Fame in 1985.
Agi Plenk was a passionate and tireless champion for children and their education. As the founder of The Children's Center, her life was defined by love, dedication, and a deep commitment to helping young people thrive.
Her journey began in Chicago, where she worked hard to learn English and eventually became a research assistant at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. She earned her M.A. with research focused on the Thematic Apperception Test, and it was during this time that her passion for working with children truly took root.
In 1963, Agi began her long and impactful career at The Children’s Center. For the next 23 years, she poured her energy into advocating for the emotional and educational needs of children. She later earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Utah, proudly calling herself a Ute.
Beyond her professional achievements, Agi’s life was an adventure. She found joy in the outdoors—hiking, skiing, and exploring the Vienna Woods, and brought that same sense of curiosity and vitality to her work.
Agi Plenk’s legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the systems she helped shape. Her impact on Utah’s children, and on all who work with and for them, will never be forgotten.
