Committed to a Dream—January 15, 2004
“Intensive Tutoring Positions Students for Success”

Claudia Valdez knows the difference between good enough and excellent. But it's not a distinction she learned on her own. It took an outside force to make that difference clear. Since she was accepted in the Dream Maker's Program run by the Greater Wheeling Area Youth Outreach, Valdez has shouldered a more challenging class load. "I've been taking harder classes," she said. "I never thought I'd be taking (advanced placement) classes before."

Dream Maker's not only offers an opportunity to help students from low-income families improve their grades, but it also helps them build skills to be successful in college. The program serves students in Wheeling and Buffalo Grove high schools, as well as London and Holmes middle schools.

"We're making a difference and changing the future for that child and family," said Philip Herman, executive director of the Greater Wheeling Area Youth Outreach. "This is not a handout mentality. We're showing how to restore dignity by teaching skills and allowing young people to get an education that no one can take away."

Educational research shows students from low-income families typically do not perform as well in school as their peers. But Dream Maker's is trying to change that course for students willing to make a strong commitment.

Read the full story in: Wheeling Countryside

Program Helps Students Pursue Dream—June 27, 2002

The highlight of the tutoring program came June 20 when 52 student members and their families gathered at the Chevy Chase Country Club to celebrate their academic achievements through the year. The tutoring program is unique, said Philip Herman, executive director of Wheeling Area Youth Outreach, in that it tries to take the student as far they can go.

Herman said the program is getting results. Last year, five students in the program graduated high school and went on to college. This year, three students graduated and are on their way to college. "I would say out of the five that graduated last year, at least four of them wouldn't have gone to college without the program," Herman said.

Evaristo Mendez Jr. graduated from Wheeling High School this year. The Wheeling resident said he was a straight "C" student before he entered the program as a sophomore. In his last semester, Mendez made the "A" honor roll.

Mendez will be attending Northeastern next fall, where his sister goes to school, to study accounting or business. He said his brother is at the University of Illinois studying mechanical engineering.

Read the full story in: Wheeling Countryside