After-School Shining Stars

As the school year draws to a close, The Literacy & Learning Center is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of its students and the selfless contributions of its volunteers as the school year draws to a close. These "Shining Stars" represent the hard work, resilience, and community spirit that define the Center’s mission.

Record-Breaking Progress: The iReady Rockstar

One of the most remarkable academic success stories this year belongs to Alejandro. Since joining the after-school program in January, Alejandro has shown an extraordinary eagerness to learn, working closely with volunteers and engaging with his peers.

In just four months, Alejandro has completed numerous reading and math lessons on the i-Ready platform. His dedication resulted in the greatest diagnostic increase of any student in the program, raising his reading score by 50 points and his math score by 63 points. His rapid progress is especially notable given that he achieved these results in half the time of students who enrolled last August.“Alejandro’s growth this year has been extraordinary,” said Kara Long, Interim Programs Manager at The Literacy & Learning Center.  “He has shown genuine excitement for learning and a determination to do his best every day.  Watching his confidence grow alongside his academic progress has been incredibly rewarding, and we are all so proud of what he has accomplished.”

Students of the Year

The Center is also thrilled to honor two exceptional individuals as Students of the Year for their personal and academic transformations:

• Daniel has been recognized for his remarkable growth, demonstrating increased focus, confidence, and a strong commitment to his learning. Beyond his academic strides, Daniel has shown significant development approaching challenges with resilience and fostering a respectful environment for his peers.

  
  

  

• Danae was selected for her exemplary work ethic and positive attitude. Consistently putting forth her best effort, Danae approaches every task with determination and takes immense pride in her accomplishments. Her perseverance sets a wonderful example for her peers.

  
  

2026 Volunteer of the Year

The success of TL&LC students is made possible in part by the dedicated mentors who support them. This year, Tricia Smith has been named Volunteer of the Year for her extraordinary commitment.

Tricia serves at the Center four days a week, creating a supportive space where every student feels valued. Her dedication extends far beyond the classroom; she is a frequent fixture at her students' plays, games, and special events, proving to them that they matter both inside and outside of the program. Her kindness and consistent presence have made a lasting impact on the lives of many.

“The accomplishments we celebrate through these awards represent so much more than academic progress,” said Bonnie Potts, Executive Director of The Literacy & Learning Center.  “They reflect perseverance, confidence, kindness, and an incredible impact that caring mentors and educators can have on a child’s life.  We are tremendously proud of Alejandro, Daniel, and Danae for the growth they have shown this year, and deeply grateful for volunteers like Tricia who give so generously of their time and heart to support our students every day.”

The Literacy & Learning Center congratulates Alejandro, Daniel, Danae, and Tricia for their inspiring contributions to our community and thanks all members of the Learning community for all their hard work and kind generosity. 

To learn more about programs at TL&LC, please contact Bonnie Potts at bpotts@theliteracyandlearningcenter.org or 828-526-0863 or visit TheLiteracyandLearningCenter.org.