NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Ericca Reynolds (reynoldse@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

12/05/2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-Becky Owens believes in giving something back to Natchitoches for "housing our University and giving us the opportunity to attend college."

Owens, a senior elementary education major in the Louisiana Scholars' College at Northwestern State University, is president and co-founder of NSU Tutors. The group consists of Northwestern students from all majors who volunteer their knowledge and time tutoring students at NSU Middle Lab School and North Natchitoches Elementary.

Students from the two schools are selected for the tutoring through teacher selection and upon parents' request.

"We chose the students for the program by looking at Iowa Achievement Test scores from last year and we sent out permission slips to those parents," said Theresa Hamilton, principal of North Natchitoches Elementary. "Once the other parents heard about the program, they were really excited about the possibility of their child getting extra help with no additional costs and began requesting their child take part in NSU Tutors. "

Owens has been a part of NSU Tutors since her freshman year at the university and has noticed a positive difference in the students she works with.

"The students begin to actually love coming to school and wanting to learn," said Owens, who is also a member of the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. "They have the opportunity to have fun at school because they aren't the weakest one and they feel more comfortable in the classroom. This program also facilitates a lot of friendships that would not have otherwise taken place and in turn, the students have that support throughout their school career."

"Overall the students participating in NSU Tutors are doing better on their daily homework and their testing," said Hamilton.

Owens enjoys participating in NSU Tutors because not only does she gain the practical experience that will benefit her in own classroom upon graduation in May 2003 but it also "makes my life worthwhile.

"With this program, you can see the immediate effects and it's the feeling of doing something productive with your life," said Owens. "It's also an opportunity to get involved in this wonderful, close-knit community. So many of us come to Natchitoches to attend NSU and never get involved with the city itself."

For more information on NSU Tutors, please contact Owens at NSU_Tutors@hotmail.com.

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