SVSU student Devon Waslusky, of Breckenridge, presents on tutoring success story at statewide conference

2014 Oct 28

Saginaw Valley State University student Devon Waslusky, of Breckenridge, presented at a statewide conference this month. Waslusky was among eight tutors from SVSU's Center for Academic Achievement who discussed their success in working with student-athletes to improve their academic performance.

Waslusky, an English major, and the SVSU group presented during the Michigan Tutorial Conference Friday, Oct. 24 at the Delta College Planetarium in Bay City. Elaine Hunyadi, coordinator of SVSU's Center for Academic Achievement, said the success story began in fall 2013 when she and SVSU men's basketball coach Randy Baruth discussed utilizing her center's tutoring resources for his athletes. The initiative gained momentum over the following months as other coaches and officials with the school's Athletics department involved more teams in the collaboration.

"What I'm trying to do with student-athletes is make them believe their academic life is as important as their athletic life," Hunyadi said. "We want to prepare them for life."

Hunyadi said about 10 tutors -- largely specializing in social science subjects -- over the last year have worked in group mentoring sessions with athletes from the men's basketball, football, softball and women's tennis teams.

She said the tutors' conference presentation included data showing the positive impact of the initiative as well as athletes providing testimony of their academic turnarounds.

In a 1-month span this semester, more than 300 student-athletes participated in more than 2,000 Center for Academic Achievement tutoring sessions.

"I'm really excited about it," Hunyadi said of the initiative. "Especially when students show significant gains in GPA and we see them embracing the challenges of their academic lives."

Hunyadi praised the entire lineup of tutors for their work with the student-athletes.

"I'm terrifically proud of them," she said.