April 30, 2019
SVSU students honored for outstanding tutoring of peers
Four Saginaw Valley State University students who support their classmates have received the annual Mayme Hamilton Award in Excellence in Tutoring by Students.
The award was established by the family of the late Mayme Hamilton to recognize the efforts of outstanding SVSU student tutors, who are selected by judges from the three on-campus tutoring centers. The applicants submitted an essay that explains the characteristics of a good undergraduate tutor, and how they personally demonstrate those attributes.
The four students who received the award are:
- Brendon Cousino, a mechanical engineer major from Ottawa Lake, tutors at SVSU's Math and Physics Resource Center
- Carlee Giordano, a social work major from Alpena, tutors at SVSU's Center for Academic Achievement
- Katelyn Hejza, a marketing major from Fraser, tutors for the accounting and economics departments
- Emma Kirsch, an elementary education major from Clinton Township, is a tutor at SVSU's Writing Center
Helen Raica-Klotz, director of SVSU's Writing Center, said she is thankful for these awards, because they support the tutors who do so much for students across campus.
“We are grateful to the family of Mayme Hamilton for honoring these student tutors, who work to support other students' abilities to succeed at our university,” Raica-Klotz said.
Hamilton became a teacher in Canada when she was 18 years old. After moving Michigan in 1929, she put her career on hold to raise her 10 children. Still wanting to educate others, she used her teaching education to begin tutoring her children, neighbors, nieces and nephews. Soon after, she began to voluntarily tutor at SVSU as well.
The students were presented with their awards during a luncheon on Friday, April 19 in SVSU's Emeriti Room.