• IDRA Newsletter • March 2011 •

Tutor Receives Wingate Presidential Scholarship

Kayla Rugg of Cumberland County Schools, North Carolina, has been accepted to Wingate University with a Presidential Scholarship of $50,000. Kayla was a tutor in IDRA’s Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program last year. She received third prize in our high school tutor essay contest. “I have discovered that when my tutees see that I am doing well in school, they also strive to do well,” wrote Kayla Rugg. “This has been an extremely good motivator for me. I never dreamed that I could possibly make a 3.8 grade point average. Thanks to those young children, I am a much better person than ever. It makes me feel as though anything is possible.” Her full essay is online at: http://www.idra.org/coca-cola-valued-youth-program/.

Tutor Goes on YouTube to Share His Experience as a Tutor

Kwame’ Weatherall, of the Houston Independent School District, is featured in a YouTube video talking about how the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program made a difference in his life. He received first place in IDRA’s high school tutor essay contest last year. In his essay, Kwame’ wrote: “Ever since I joined this program, my attitude has changed toward helping people who are in need or struggling… When I see a smile from my tutees, it gives me the sign that I am a great person as a role model and as a growing man.” The video is available online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFYbdCClkcA.

More Stories Being Added to the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program Fellows Networking Website

IDRA is compiling more success stories like these through our Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program Fellows website. If you know former Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program tutors, please have them contact IDRA. The Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program has been in existence for 26 years, and we have created a free web site for former tutors to network with each other and to support each other in areas such as getting to college and employment.

Comments and questions may be directed to IDRA via e-mail at feedback@idra.org.

[©2011, IDRA. This article originally appeared in the March 2011 IDRA Newsletter by the Intercultural Development Research Association. Permission to reproduce this article is granted provided the article is reprinted in its entirety and proper credit is given to IDRA and the author.]

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