26 Marion Sheehan Deirdre Barbeau Maureen Borski Helene Brennan Christopher Carr William Collins Rosemary Davidson Raymond Gotta Mary Ellen Hogan David Langevin Colleen Lasorsa Edward Malachowski Sr. Edith McAlice Mona Roncalli Marion Sweeney Mary Scannell Signet Frances Hoginski Elisa Siniscalchi Antonietta DiMichele Sisters of St. Joseph Barbara Pastie Sr. Helen Perry Carol Raffaele
Sisters of St. Joseph Sr. Mary Magdalen Ward
John Sullivan John Patz
Deceased Sisters of St. Joseph Kathryn Needham Carol Raffaele Sisters of St. Joseph
Robert F. Sullivan Dr. Kathleen Riordan
Ed and Mary Skinski Sr. Kathleen Kirley Jenny M. Slorock Patricia Bombardier Anna T. Soares William Fitzgerald Catherine Stelzer Rev. Mark Stelzer Paul Stelzer Mary Garde Robert B. Stewart William Fitzgerald Linda Stone The Stone Family
Michael and May Sypek Michael Sypek Alicia Marie Tessier Nancy Tessier Margaret V. Thompson William Fitzgerald Jean C.Tierney Helen Raleigh Allison Chunn Tom Jean Egan Kathleen Toomey Alice Fay Margaret Tourloukis Affiliated Professional Services, Inc. Baycare Health Partners, Inc.
Patricia Bell Ann Callahan Cooley and Shrair P.C. Robert Gannon Dr. Richard Hicks Joseph Marois Daniel Melley Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. MGI Development, Inc. Maureen Schultheis Charlene Soverow Jane and Otto Vogl Laurie Whittaker Edmund Tremblay Sr. Eleanor Tremblay Lucien and Kathleen Turmel Mary Sacenti Robert J.Tuttle William Fitzgerald Helen and Nick Tuzzio Dr. Linda Tuzzio
Charles and Celia Vose Eleanor Diethelm Mary Martin Walsh ’49 Rose Marie Nathan Alexandra Wanat Arlene Richter Eileen Warwick Ellen Hurley Laura Weeks Richard Brundage Mary Donovan Welch Patricia Hines James Williams Elizabeth Drummond Helen Wright Edmund Wright Sr. Mary Lou Wright Florence Wright
For many donors, the thought of providing assistance to an Elms College student is reward enough. But a gift from one anonymous donor had double impact: not only did it help our students gain valuable real-life experience; at the same time it has provided life-changing help to dozens of low-income children who have reading difficulties.
Summer Reading Program: Valuable Experience for Our Students, and Life-changing Help for Low-income Children
The donor made grants to both the Elms, to pay for teachers, and to our partner in the summer reading program, Holy Name School, to provide scholarships for needy students. According to the anonymous donor, she “is grateful to God for the chance to have an immediate and direct impact on the lives of a significant number of our young people.” The summer reading program, which just completed its 20th year, allows students in our master’s of teaching program who are seeking licensure as reading specialists to work directly with local children aged six through 15. It provides a wonderful opportunity to supplement their solid classroom learning with valuable hands-on experience, while at the same time giving invaluable help to children who really need it. “In the summer reading program, I was able to work closely with three children, diagnose and assess them, and work one-on-one with each of them to turn their reading weaknesses into strengths,” said Peg Sullivan ’10, a fifth grade teacher at Lincoln School in Springfield, who completed her M.A.T. in May. “You just cannot get that experience in a regular classroom.” This is the second year the donor provided these two $20,000 grants for the summer reading program. In the summer of 2010, 60 children participated in the program, and two-thirds of them received financial aid to attend. “The children I worked with showed significant improvement in reading skills by the end of the program,” said Peg, who is now working as a reading specialist. “This will help them throughout their entire lives.” “Thanks to that anonymous donor, we have been able to give assistance to many, many children – some of whom received full scholarships,” said Beth Young, Ed.D., education professor and director of the summer reading program. “Those funds have greatly expanded our ability to offer this program to children who desperately need the help, but might not otherwise be able to afford it. We’re proud of the fact that we don’t exclude any child who needs help.” The Division of Education prepares teachers for licensure at the preschool, elementary, and secondary levels, and in the areas of English as a second language and students with moderate disabilities.