Vol. 19, No. 16

Jan. 13, 2000

ROTC students provide
community service at local school

Jeff Stowell, an ROTC candidate who is working on his master's degree in education, tutors reading with Lewin Lively, 8, a third grader at McVey Elementary School in Newark. . Army ROTC cadet Jeff Stowell and third grader Lewin Lively are learning buddies. Stowell, who is working toward his master's degree in education and plans to be an elementary school teacher, is getting hands-on experience in teaching and mentoring, and Lively is getting one-on-one attention and practice in reading. Stowell feels at home at McVey because he attended school there until third grade. He and Lively get together on a weekly basis and read and talk. "We talk about the weekend, what he's been reading and what he's been doing." Stowell said. Lively announced he likes reading but also enjoys roller skating and football. At the next table in reading resource coordinator Betty Kessler's room, another cadet, sophomore Stephen Scoba, helps Josh Johnson with his reading. Johnson said he enjoys reading, especially about the Titanic. The two also discussed how Johnson lost a couple of teeth recently-a common occurrence in third grade, Kessler pointed out. Kessler had high praise for the cadets who, along with other groups, volunteer at the school. "We gave the cadets a short training program to get them started. The time and attention they give the students is invaluable. That kind of one-on-one contact is not possible for a teacher to give in a class of 25 or more children. Not only do the students make good progress in their fluency and comprehension, they look up to the cadets, who are role models for them," she said. Lt. Col. Paul Pusecker, military science, said that participating in the governor's mentoring program is an outreach program for the cadets and, at the same time, shows the Army in a positive way in the community. Capt. Paul Yager, military science, coordinated the effort. "This fall, approximately 20 cadets participated as time permitted. From these, we hope to draw five or six who have a real interest and commitment to take part in the program on a regular basis during the spring semester and develop an ongoing relationship with the students they are mentoring," he said. -Sue Moncure Photo by Jack Buxbaum