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Christa Romanosky Earns Top Student Employee Honors for Developing New Leaders in Learning Outreach Program
After a long-standing tutoring program at Carnegie Mellon ended, many students complained about the loss, but had no ideas for replacing the program. Romanosky came forward to analyze the previous initiative and create a new foundation built on the strengths of the former program.
Romanosky, a senior creative writing and psychology major in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, created the Leaders in Learning program, a literacy improvement program for students in grades three through five. The program employs 25 university students who tutor and mentor 52 students from four different elementary schools in Pittsburgh's Hill District. The program exposes children to speakers and topics that they would not otherwise encounter. In addition, the students develop speaking and writing skills as they discuss and reflect on the activities they complete in a series of workshops on topics such as theater, anti-drug/violence and the spoken word.
Judith Hallinen, director of the Leonard Gelfand Center for Service Learning and Outreach, nominated Romanosky for the Student Employee of the Year Award. She praised Romanosky's achievements and ability to create Leaders in Learning.
"I have worked at Carnegie Mellon for more than 21 years and while I have worked with many dedicated students, Christa stands out as one who is not the 'typical' student employee. I think that instead of just 'doing a job,' Christa has used this experience to develop her organizational and leadership skills while creating a valuable program for the community," Hallinen said.
"I am so grateful for the chance to bring a literacy program like Leaders in Learning to the Carnegie Mellon campus," she said, "Creating Leaders in Learning has been an amazing opportunity for me. The program not only directs students in the Hill District toward a sense of leadership, but it also guides the tutors, and it has directed me toward the accomplishments that have been recognized by Carnegie Mellon."
Vijay Jesrani |
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