NEW LONDON, Conn. – Hannah Read, a freshman at Connecticut College, is a volunteer for the America Reads Challenge Elementary Tutorial. Read volunteers through the Office of Volunteers for Community Service at Connecticut College. OVCS plays a key role in teaching students about community engagement and the best practices of participation.

Read, a 2006 graduate of Edward Little High School, is the daughter of Camille Parish and Edward Read of Auburn.

Elementary Tutorial is a component of the America Reads Challenge, a national literacy program created by Connecticut College. The main goal is for all elementary school students to be able to read at grade level.

Connecticut College partners with New London’s Jennings, Winthrop and the Regional Multicultural Magnet Elementary Schools to implement the program. Connecticut College students complete a reading training program and are matched with classroom teachers. The students assist as teacher aides, provide one-on-one tutoring and teach small groups. They also read to children to foster a love of reading and build literacy skills.