Poughkeepsie City School District board member Randall Johnson is hoping to keep Project Thunder, an after-school tutoring and mentoring program held at Vassar College this year, growing.
Math, reading and science are tutorial subject areas being offered, coupled with lectures from various community leaders throughout the year.
At a welcome meeting held on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Vassar’s Rockefeller Hall, Johnson addressed a crowd of around 30 children about the importance of working hard and setting goals.
He said he was notified that three home-schooled children are interested in being involved with the program this year as well, and said he was grateful the program is being housed at Vassar, after being offered at Poughkeepsie Middle School for the past two years.
“The president of Vassar (Catherine Hill) was wonderful in letting us use the property here,” Johnson said.
Due to greater custodial fees and the possibility of having to hire an administrator to run the program this year, the middle school site was unavailable.
Project Thunder is affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Kappa Upsilon Lambda Chapter of the Mid-Hudson Valley. In the past, the program received money from the Community Foundation and a donor for a short time.
Johnson, Project Thunder coordinator, said the program is primarily for fifth-and-sixth-graders and older, but said, “We’re not going to turn down any kids.”
Johnson stressed the importance of tutoring and mentoring kids, especially from third grade on, acknowledging that it’s never too early to learn life’s lessons.
“We want to teach these kids how to become great leaders and to do great things, like go to college,” Johnson said of the group who signed up on Oct. 4.
Students helping students
Vassar students are also teaming up to help students with academic needs.
Vassar junior Emilie Kraft, a psychology major and biology minor, said she will be tutoring math and science, and will receive a half credit for psychology. She said the college’s field work office informed her of the opportunity to serve the community, and is grateful for the hands-on experience.
Sophomore Hansol Chung, in her second year assisting the program, said she will continue tutoring math.
Sophomore Elizabeth Boateng said that in the past she has helped tutor Hispanic students with English as a second language and is open to other opportunities as well.
The children in the program have set high goals for themselves, but they know it takes hard work and a strong support network to get them there.
“I want to be a cheerleader and a teacher,” said 7-year-old Taidom Thompson, adding that she likes to write, as well.
Five-year-old Christopher Thompson said he enjoys being involved with the rope climb, an activity for which he said he has won many trophies.
When asked where group members go on field trips, Thompson said, “We go where fun things go.”
Johnson was quick to point out a schedule of speaking events happening this year at Vassar College’s Rockefeller Hall, Room 312. For more information on how to get involved, contact Johnson at 454-5349.