Amherst Student Wins National Scholastic All-Star Award

Submitted by Scholastic:

Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, is excited to recognize 12 outstanding students in grades 4–12 who, through their unwavering determination and with support from their dedicated teachers, have overcome obstacles to make impressive reading gains and set themselves on a path to academic success.

The students were enrolled in either READ 180 or System 44, systems designed to raise reading achievement for struggling readers in grades 3–12. One of those students is Souhegan's Oskana Clay, a 16-year-old Souhegan student from Amherst.

Originally from Ukraine, Oksana moved to the United States not knowing any English, but over the course of the past few years, she has been able to overcome the language barrier to achieve academic and personal success. When she entered READ 180, Oksana read at a first-grade level; today, she is on the fast track to read on grade level by next year.

Oksana’s teacher noted, “READ 180 became a safe haven for Oksana, both socially and academically. She used that space to test waters, take risks, and to gain the confidence she needed to assimilate to the new world of high school in the United States.” 

Oksana recently passed the written component of her driver’s education course.

The 12 winners— nine READ 180 students and three System 44 students —have all had to overcome a number of personal and academic obstacles to meet their goals. From battling dyslexia to immigrating to the United States without knowing a word of English, these students were able to put their frustrations aside and build their confidence by learning to read. With the help of READ 180, System 44, and their committed teachers, these students are now on a path to college and career.

“With the demands of the Common Core State Standards, it is more important than ever that our students are proficient readers,” said Margery Mayer, President of Scholastic Education. “We believe that literacy is the key to survival and success in the 21^st Century, and that it enables students to succeed not only in school, but also in life. READ 180 andSystem 44 have created the building blocks for students to excel, and the inspiring stories and accomplishments of our All-Star Award winners speak to just how powerful a tool reading can be.”