Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 December 1998 — Page 2

PAGE A2

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER iB.xIMS

IPA Continued from A1

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group concerned with the betterment of minority education. Classroom Coaches, Peace Learning Center, Twenty-First Century Scholars, St. Floriamn Center, and State Farm Insurance share the same goals as the IPA and were awarded plaques in recognition of their contributions to minority stu-

dents.

14-year-old Johnny Odom, one of the students being honored that morning, went from an F average to a C average. He attends school year-round at Stonybrook Middle School. “Johnny has shown a lot of great improvement,” says Erika Hummel, “from the beginning of the school year in July.” Hummel, Odom’s science teacher at Stonybrook, says that when she heard about the award presentation she “really wanted to support him.” “He didn’t’ get off to a very good start, grade wise and a little bit behaviorally,” she says smiling brightly across the table at Odom and his father. “He’s really improved, attitude wise, behaviorally. He’s really beginning to care about his grades. Johnny is a good kid, I really like him.” Odom says it was easy for him to tum his grades around. “It feels good,” he says, beaming, “I had a better grade than I had before.” One of the most important factors in Odom’s change of heart was the support he received from his father. “I encouraged him to do his best,” says Charles Brown, Odom’s father. “One thing I do for him is try to help him understand that higher education is very important to have and school is going to be important for him to be able to maintain that, and better for himself when he’s older.” Brown says that sports played a big part in his son’s life. Last year, Odom played football, but when his grades got bad Brown pulled him off the team. “I told him if he wanted to play says. “I told himlwfai^’tgxficpf, anything low&'jhana CTornim Gf be able to play. v ! “Word,” says Odom, as he nods vn-agreement. 14-year-old lyeisha Tillman says she came to realize that she needed to change her study habits by simply observing her surround-

ings.

“Everybody in my school was getting held back,” says the Arlington Woods Middle School student, shyly, “and I asked myself ’what if that was me?’ Then I was like ’well I want to go to high school’. | didn’t want to stay back in eighth grade again (like everyone else).” : Tillman went from making D’s and F’s, to making C’s, B’s and A’s. She claims her hardest subject was social studies, but now she’s got it all figured out. With the help of her mother, she has recognized her learning handicaps and conquered

them.

I “First, when I came home all I Wanted to do was talk on the phone and go outside. Now I know education comes first.” ; Tillman spent this past summer vacation unlike most students. She Sat around constantly thinking About her poor study habits. When school started, she began asking for

help when she needed it the most. She also began receiving tutoring and once her grades improved, she began tutoring others. “I am very proud of her,” says her mother Anita Tillman. “I told her that in order to make it in life she will need an education. She doesn’t need any kind of street knowledge.” Even though Tillman has yet to decide on a career (she either wants to be a lawyer, a beautician or a nurse) she has plans to go to college. She understands that she must prepare for her future because, as her mother told her, she won’t always have her mother around to take care of her. The student award recipients received certificates and blue rib-

bons.

“The blue signifying first place,” adds Lockett. “Because according to our book, they’re first place for the work they do.” Shavaughnie Woodson, a close friend of the Tillman family, says she attended the ceremony just because. “It’s an educational experience,” she says. “I’m really proud of all the young kids. Proud that they could achieve this.”

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