Reading Recovery Scholarship Recipients Honored - Malcolm ...

Reading Recovery Scholarship Recipients HonoredBy Marlys Sloup, Retired Reading Recovery Teacher LeaderOver a decade ago, the intervention of Reading Recovery helped put a group of struggling firstgraders on the path to school success. Recently, eight graduating seniors were recognized fortheir high school achievements and each was presented with a $1,000 check to help with theircontinuing studies.All of these students received individual Reading Recovery tutoring as first graders during the1996-97 school year. During high school, these recipients maintained high academic standingswhile being involved in sports, theater, music, forensics, student government and clubs.Several excelled in languagestudies and others were captainsof athletic teams. All wereinvolved in volunteer programs,often tutoring peers and youngerstudents, and most held part-timejobs. Their essays andrecommendations all reflected thebreadth of involvement and theirdetermination to work hard andsucceed.The students’ scholarship essaysspeak volumes about theimportance of Reading Recoveryand its teachers – years later. “Iowe a lot of my educationalsuccess to the Reading Recoveryprogram at Thoreau Elementary,and to my teacher, Mrs. (Joyce)Back row: Hugo Garcia, Darnell Small, Erik Freer, Ellery HamannFront row: Hannah Kuhn, Kasey Sorensen, Xenia Kelnosky, SamanthaNelsonDewey,” wrote Hannah Kuhn. “She was patient and kind, and there for me when I needed help. Iwould not be planning on attending Marquette University …and enrolling in the nursing programif it wasn’t for her.”Xenia Kelnosky was philosophical about the program’s affect on her life. “When we moveforward in life, we can get caught up and forget about our past. When I think about it, it’s hard tobelieve there was a time when I had problems reading. Thanks to Reading Recovery and myexcellent teacher and friend, Pat DiBiase, I excel in reading. In fact, English is one of myfavorite subjects.”Samantha Nelson’s essay keyed in on her teachers, and how they influenced her career decision.“I had a lot of difficulties because I had a learning disability and a speech impediment. I think ifit had not been for the amazing teachers I have had since I was 2 ½, I don’t know if I would be assuccessful as I am today. They have all inspired me to succeed…I want to have a job where

coming home from work, I know I made a positive difference in someone’s life; I think thatbeing a teacher would be perfect!”All of the students will be continuing their studies at institutions within Wisconsin or out of state:Beloit College, Marquette University, University of Minnesota/Duluth, MATC Fire RecruitAcademy, MATC Liberal Arts Transfer Program, University of Wisconsin/ Madison, Universityof Wisconsin/Oshkosh, and Parsons and Eugene Lang College in New York City. These eightstudents are to be congratulated for their many achievements and plans for the future!This is the sixth year that the scholarships have been awarded, funded by the originalSloup/Wortley Endowment to the Foundation to Madison’s Public Schools and by generousdonations from friends of Reading Recovery. To date, $26,000 has been awarded to students tohelp them in pursuing their dreams through post-high school studies.