25 Aug 2008
Student grades in math, including algebra, calculus and physics, are on the rise, thanks to BAE Systems’ volunteer tutoring work at Wayne Hills High School in Wayne, New Jersey. This year the program paired 33 company employees with more than 100 students.
As of June, which ended the tutoring program’s seventh season, between eight and ten participating students increased their grades by a full letter or more each season.
“What began as a small initiative with just three tutors and five students has now expanded into a growing tradition at the Wayne facilities.” said Vince Frascella, the BAE Systems’ tutoring program lead.
The program began when BAE Systems employees approached Wayne Hills High School officials seeking opportunities to help the community. Responding to the school’s need for math tutors, Vince Frascella led the design of the program that enables employees to use lunch breaks to work with the students.
“I found it very rewarding to see the reaction of students when everything just began to click. Whenever a student showed me a good grade they received on a recent exam, I shared in their happiness, because I knew I played a small part in helping them understand it,” Scott Birken, a BAE Systems volunteer.
Since the program began in spring of 2003, employees from the company’s facility in Wayne have volunteered 2,210 hours, or from 45 minutes to three hours each week. Their goal is to see grades improve within two marking periods.
“It is encouraging to see the enthusiasm that our employees have in wanting to help the Wayne Hills students,” said Alicia La Pierre, community relations manager. “This school business partnership program helps foster tutoring, mentoring and identifying future employees, particularly in technical disciples.”
The tutoring program is one of many initiatives under the BAE Systems’ Wayne School, Business Partnership, which recently was awarded the company’s 2008 Bronze Chairman’s Award for Transferring Best Practices.
For more information, please contact:
Alicia La Pierre, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 973-633-4284
Mobile: +1 973-896-0564
alicia.lapierre@baesystems.com
