Kite and Key program helps local students

Timmy Thompson, a seventh grader at Lea Elementary School, took notes as he examined an ancient Indian shell trumpet yesterday at the University Museum. And thanks to a community service project called Step One, Timmy had the chance to ask a friend for help in examining the work. College freshman Maggie Dickinson, who has been tutoring Timmy since the semester began, smiled as she watched her student examine the exhibit. "I've mostly been helping him with social studies," Dickinson said. "He just needed a more one-on-one approach to learning than his classes gave him. It's making a difference." The 12-year old smiled. "She's OK," he said of his tutor. "We get along." Thompson is one of 125 students from Lea Elementary involved in the program, which matches Lea students with University students in an effort to help the elementary school kids both academically and socially. The program is run by the Kite and Key Society. Wharton sophomore Jeff Engelberg, Step One project coordinator, noted that the project has focused on giving the elementary school students a social outlet as much as a place to learn. "We emphasize a big brother-big sister type of relationship between the tutors and the students," Engelberg said. "We want the Lea students to be able to feel comfortable asking the Penn students for advice." Engelberg also pointed to the day's activity at the museum as an important opportunity for the tutors to meet their students' parents. He added that during the last two years, student involvement in the program has increased. "The tutors make this program work," Engelberg said. "They're the ones that are out there. They're the ones making a difference." But he noted that more University participation is needed. "We've had 850 tutor requests from Lea, and we'd like to meet all of those needs," he said. "We rely on our tutors to relate their positive experience to others to help the program grow." Tutor Cynthia Kueppers, a College sophomore, is working with Jerald, an eighth grader. "[Jerald] is very academically motivated," she said. "He very much wants to go to college, and he realizes that he needs a better learning environment than the classroom provides. I give him an environment where he can feel comfortable asking questions." College sophomore Jennifer Hawk is working with a child named Lacey, an eighth grader. "We discuss so much about our private lives," she said. "He hates math, so we try and keep it fun. We're so loud, we keep getting in trouble in the library. "You get to see how the education system fails. Everyone who participates in this program gets the chance to make a difference," Hawk added. "We actually get to teach -- not just about school, but about life."