ACE News
Annual End-of-the-Year Celebration
June 17, 2011
After tutoring a combined 495 kindergarten, first-, and second-graders in reading and bringing 75% of them to grade level, ACE full-time tutors wrapped up the 2010–2011 year with an end-of-the-year ceremony to celebrate all their work!
The evening started off with moving speeches by Dr. Mary Ellen Isaacs, ACE's program director, and ACE staff member Dr. Sheryl Prater. Dr. Isaacs's inspirational words thanked full-time members for attending more than 30 service days and completing 52,700 combined service hours. She also pointed out that, out of the more than 200 applicants for the 2010–2011 school year, the ones celebrating were the chosen few who made the final cut.
"I saw you learning from each other, supporting each other, challenging each other, and loving each other as we created this year in ACE," Dr. Isaacs said, holding back tears. "Thank you for going that extra mile."
Dr. Prater's heartwarming speech included passages from a book she had written herself, in the style of Margaret Wise Brown's The Important Book. Prater highlighted the beauty, commitment, and devotion ACE members have given to the program and how closely they have stuck to ACE's mission.
ACE Program Coordinators Susan Buchanan, Gabriela Garcia, and Jason Buckingham were also invited to say a few words. All congratulated the cohort on making it through so many hours of service and on changing hundreds of children's lives through tutoring.
Buchanan then honored the six ACE leaders, congratulating them for their two years of service. Leaders received Certificates of National Service and, in turn, gave certificates to their respective campus tutors.
Full-time tutors Kati Hinkson and Katie Crapulli performed a humorous two-voice poem about the ups and downs of tutoring, and Carla Frazer recited a poem recalling her year in ACE.
The evening wrapped up with an incredible slide show put together by ACE leaders. The show featured each tutor and a picture of a child who was special to him or her holding a sign thanking their tutor. It was a beautiful reflection of the year.
Finally, the ACE staff welcomed each tutor into the "Duck Club," an elite group of ACE alums named for the ducks Across the Stream by Mirra Ginsburg. As a metaphorical duck, each tutor carried children across the stream to get away from bad dreams. Tutors each received a tiny rubber duck to commemorate their time in the Duck Club.
The end of the ACE year can bring apprehension and sadness to each tutor, but tutors left this end-of-the-year celebration feeling like a part of something amazing and with the intention of carrying their commitment to service through this year and beyond.
Carla Frazer
ACE tutor