FWCS Monthly Newsletter and Blog

Study Connection kicked off its 30^th year of helping students with the Annual Celebration and Recognition Breakfast Thursday, Aug. 23. The event honored volunteers and students for their accomplishments and featured keynote speaker J. Scott Savage, author of 17 book, including the “Farworld” series, “Case File 13” series and “Mysteries of Cove” series.

In addition to speaking at the annual breakfast, Savage visited several schools speaking to third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders about writing and being an author. He will also hosted a book-signing and Study Connection fundraiser at Barnes & Noble at Glenbrook Square.

As Savage spoke to the breakfast audience, he compared being an author to volunteering, and acknowledged that success can seem impossible in both endeavors. But, he said, you have to try.

"Give yourself permission to fail," he said. "If you only do the things you know you can do, you’ll never find out what you can really do."

The annual breakfast serves as the kick-off to a new year of tutors throughout the community working with students, but it also is a time to honor those who have given their time to improve students’ lives.

The 2018 Mike McClelland Outstanding Volunteer is Skiler Lehman, who is a volunteer from Do it Best Corp. Waynedale Elementary student Jayden Quintana was celebrated as the 2018 Don Wolf Outstanding Student. And, Patrice Nelson of Harris Elementary was named the Connie Dickey Outstanding FWCS Colleague.

Study Connection began in 1989, founded by Don Wolf, retired CEO and president emeritus of Do it Best Corp. Over nearly three decades, more than 10,000 students have gone through the program. Volunteers are matched one-to-one with FWCS students who need academic assistance. Students and volunteers meet weekly after school for one hour during the school year with the majority of the students bused to and from local businesses for tutoring sessions. This not only gives students a chance to receive  extra homework help, but also meet a mentor in the community and learn about local career opportunities.

Study Connection has been replicated in other cities across the nation and has been recognized as an outstanding mentoring program.

To get involved with Study Connection, call 260-467-8811.