Education students to be honored today at virtual celebration of volunteers

Because of school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of K-12 students from 18 states and Canada have been taking advantage of e-tutoring services offered by education students through a collaboration of eight private and public universities in Wisconsin and Georgia. The program has been a huge success, and today, a virtual celebration will be held to honor all those taking part.

“The e-celebration program honors all the tutors, teacher candidates, current and retired educators, families, communities, and institutions of higher education,” said Bola Delano-Oriaran, associate professor of education at St. Norbert College. “We are celebrating the passion, courage, dedication and commitment that educators invest in teaching. We are honoring all the lives that came together to tutor our K-12 students. Even in a crisis, we come together to celebrate education and the teaching profession.”

The initiative, started by Delano-Oriaran, includes Ripon College, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Green Bay, Lawrence University, UW-Milwaukee and the University of North Georgia.

Ripon College participants include:

• Kailee Betler ’20, Berlin, Wisconsin
• Cortney Bols ’20, Sandwich, Illinois
• Alejandra Cardenas ’21, Neenah, Wisconsin
• Savanah Cousert ’22, Campbellsport, Wisconsin
• Callista DeCramer ’20, Princeton, Wisconsin
• Morgan Exner ’20, Janesville, Wisconsin
• Zach Fischer ’20, Appleton, Wisconsin
• Kenny George ’20, Tinley Park, Illinois
• Aubry Herbon ’21, Antioch, Illinois
• Tayah Hiser ’20, Douglas, Wyoming
• Andrew Johnson ’20, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Cat Jones ’20, Ripon, Wisconsin
• Lindsey Karras ’20, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Jessica Reyes ’20, Chicago, Illinois
• Timbre Shilts ’20, Kenosha, Wisconsin
• Molly Waggoner ’21, Pulaski, Wisconsin