Whitman College interns who have been working hard all year to help local K-12 students in reading and math were honored on April 24 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center Ballroom.

“The year end reception is for 67 active interns who are working this semester, the site coordinators who are the links at each one of the 13 sites that we tutor in and then the teachers that work with the actual interns,” said Debbie Conklin, coordinator of the America Reads/America Counts program. “The highlight of the reception is honoring the 16 seniors
who are graduating.”

Conklin has been with the program for nine of its 10 years of existence.

Conklin said, “Our program has changed the educational landscape of Walla Walla, without a doubt. It’s a whole different education because of all the Whitman students. The dedication that they have is just tremendous.”

According to the Whitman Career Center Web site, “The America Reads program is aimed at increasing English literacy among school age children” and “The America Counts program is aimed at increasing mathematical skills among high school, middle and upper elementary school children.”

“[The year-end reception] is the one time where students, teachers, site coordinators, interns and I are all in one room together,” said Conklin. “It’s festive and it’s fun, and we get to hear perspectives from the many components of the program. Seniors are invited to share with the group how long they’ve been with the program, where they’ve been, what they’ve done, and any kind of personal insights.”

Senior Josh Smith has been with the America Reads program for four years.

Smith said of the reception, “It’s a chance for all the students to get together and to communicate. We can give feedback and say what’s worked and what hasn’t worked. We also have a chance to talk about students, not by name, but about the types of students that we deal with. It’s great to compare our experiences and share and expand our knowledge so that we are more able to deal with situations, or feel like we have other people we can talk to.”
Senior Zach Conroy has also been with the program for four years.

“For me, it’s a really great, fun job,” said Conroy. “It’s rewarding and I love working with kids. I think that we really do make a difference with these kids that are struggling. The one-on-one attention is really good for them, and I think it’s a great program.”

Conroy and Smith both described the skills that they gained through their work, as well as the rewarding sense of giving back.

“Every year I think [the closing reception] is going to be burdensome,” said Smith. “I get the e-mails and realize there’s something else I have to go to. Then I’ll go, and it will be a totally rewarding experience.”

Senior Eric Cates has also worked with the America Reads program since his first year at Whitman and has similar feelings.

Cates wrote via e-mail, “It was a relief and a joy to experience life outside of Whitman campus and to establish connections to the Walla Walla community.”

Conklin stressed the importance of the interns’ work and of honoring them for what they have done. “The program is just a win-win situation for students of all ages and it helps everyone involved,” she said.