University Communications

Several senior attending the banquet are pictured here. Bottom row, from left: Anna Allsop, Far Rockaway, N.Y.; Becky Syrowski, Elyria, Ohio; Megan Fetter, Stow, Ohio; Jackie Tussing, Deshler, Ohio; Linda Beuthe, Howell, N.J.; Natasha Crosby, Atlanta, Ga. Back row from left: Reyan Ali, Westerville, Ohio; Thanhila Alexandre, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Latoyia Mosley, Columbus, Ohio; Tricia Newton, Culver, Ind.; Alex Sherman, Wilton, Conn.; Caitlyn Smith, Columbus, Ohio; Katie Berta, Indianapols, Ind.; and Larken Kenuk, Moorestown, N.J.

Denison University’s America Reads (AR) program celebrated its 10-year anniversary on Monday, April 28, in the Welsh Hills Room of the Burton D. Morgan Center.

America Reads is a national initiative to ensure that every child reads well and independently by the end of third grade. Denison's AR program provides an average of 50 tutors per semester to 10 area elementary schools in Licking County. This year Denison students tutored area children for 4,813 hours in 10 different elementary schools in five districts. These tutors assist elementary students in reading, provide extra one-on-one attention, and serve as role models.

The evening’s annual awards banquet hosted more than 50 guests including AR tutors, local elementary school teachers and administrators, and Denison faculty.

Tutor Excellence Awards were given to Jessica Redon '10 (Randolph, Mass.),  Sara Turney '10 (Greensburg, Pa.), and Larkin Kenuk '08 (Moorestown, N.J.), recognizing their effective tutoring strategies and the significant contributions to the children they worked with.

Outstanding Educator Awards were presented to teachers Melissa Smith and Marlene Spring, both of John Clem Elementary School in Newark, for their outstanding support of AR tutors and dedication to their own students.