Big smiles and happy faces were the order of the day during the recent Holiday Extravaganza at Ursinus College, attended by students from Pottstown elementary schools

COLLEGEVILLE PA – Thirty-four Ursinus College student-mentors who serve as elementary school tutors in Pottstown and Norristown PA treated their students last month (Dec. 2, 2011) with a visit to the Collegeville PA campus to let them “experience the atmosphere” and celebrate the holiday season, an Ursinus spokesman said.

The youngsters are part of the America Reads tutoring program, locally sponsored in part by the college, the Christian Network Outreach Church, and Centro Cultural Latinos Unidos Inc. The Ursinus contingent tutors them weekdays after school ends in both boroughs; the program is entering its 14th year.

The December “Holiday Extravaganza,” as their visit was called, is an annual event during which students and mentors enjoyed dinner, then gathered in the Lower Lounge of the college’s Wismer Student Center to decorate stockings and gingerbread people, and make holiday ornaments and cards. Students from both districts also received gifts.

The event was coordinated by Ursinus seniors Daria DePaul and Garrett Washington. Transportation, food, and financial assistance for the event were donated.

The mission of the America Reads tutoring program, according to director Paulette Patton, “is to inspire young students to achieve through the example of mentors. A college education may seem out of reach to many, but a goal of the program is that interaction with Ursinus students will motivate the young students and make their dreams seem more tangible.”

Photo from Ursinus College