Conference News

Nation�s Top Adult Learners Honored in Houston Judy Vest graduated from high school without ever learning to read. �I feel like my teachers gave up on me,� she says. �But I never gave up on myself!� About a year ago, at 33, she began working with a volunteer tutor through Literacy Volunteers of America - New River Valley (LVA-NRV), Virginia. �I�ve come a long way since then,� she says. Her achievements, made possible through literacy, include: obtaining a job volunteering as a teacher�s aide in Sunday School passing the driving learner�s permit test serving on her church board and the board of LVA- New River Valley writing letters and stories, including a tribute to her mother on Mother�s Day using the library writing her own checks reading aloud in church and at an LVA-NRV event Her next goal? To improve her reading skills enough so that she can become a tutor and help someone else learn to read. On Saturday, October 24, Judy received the Basic Literacy Student of the Year Award. She is one of a distinguished group of adult learners and volunteers, selected from the 375 affiliates of Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) throughout the nation, to receive Ruth J. Colvin Awards, named in honor of LVA�s founder. The award ceremony took place at Literacy Liftoff �98, the LVA national conference, to be held at the Adam�s Mark in Houston, TX. Lisa Lopez received the Colvin Award as the English as a Second Language (ESOL) Student of the Year. She began classes with Literacy Volunteers of Maricopa County, AZ in November o 1997 as a �quiet, passive, hesitant woman who spoke and understood very little English.� In less than a year, according to her program, �she has blossomed into an eager to learn, absorbing, verbal, confident and productive learner.� Her achievements include: reading her first book in English speaking English via telephone to her doctor, dentist, and her children�s teachers mastering the �Resort Map� at her place of employment, enabling her to assist guests who ask directions obtaining a library card and checking out books with her six-year-old daughter Kenneth Gray, an adult learner with the LVA Jersey City Public Library Literacy Program, NJ received the Student Leader of the Year Award. According to his program, �He knows what it is to feel scared and ashamed and to lack self-confidence for want of reading and writing skills. He has dedicated himself to improving his literacy skills and, as a result, has grown more confident, positive and productive. What sets Kenny apart is his constant desire to to share his experience with others and help them along the way.� He has helped fellow adult learners by: serving as a student tutor in the Computer Assisted Learning Center organizing a study group for students to encourage more advanced students to assist beginners forming a Student Support Group speaking at a tutor training workshop to give the student�s perspective representing LVA on two cable television programs Other Ruth J. Colvin Award winners were: Basic Literacy Tutor of the Year Susan D�Souza, Jersey City Public Library Literacy Program, NJ ESOL Tutor of the Year Judy Gallinger, Literacy Volunteers of Clinton County, NY Administrative Volunteer of the Year Doris S. Penn, Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County, NJ Honorable Mention, Basic Literacy Tutor of the Year Ora Mae Harding, LVA-Sterling Municipal Library, Baytown, TX Literacy Liftoff �98 was the national conference of Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. in partnership with the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) and the National Alliance of Urban Literacy Coalitions (NAULC), in cooperation with the Houston READ Commission.