OrthoWorx Member Spotlight: Local Students Get Boost from Study at Starbucks® Program

OrthoWorx member companies play an active role in our community. Study at Starbucks® afterschool tutoring program is a visible example of that.

The program was started by Zimmer intern Alexandra Schutzman and Warsaw Community High School (WCHS) Assistant Principal Amanda Scroggs. Interns from Zimmer, Biomet, DePuy and Symmetry Medical meet with teachers and students to help tutor in a various subjects ranging from Biology and English to Spanish and Geometry.

This program provides students an opportunity to get extra help with their studies. It is a valuable asset to students that arose from the desire of orthopedic interns to become involved in the Warsaw community. Schutzman initially contacted WCHS Principal Troy Akers to inquire how she could help in the schools to fulfill her community service requirement for college. He directed her to Scroggs, and the two founders had their first meeting at the local Starbucks in February 2012.

Scroggs recognized the need for an after school program that met in the evening. It would allow students involved in extracurricular activities or needing a break after school to study later in the evening in a relaxed atmosphere. Schutzman provided insight to the interns, conveying that those who work the traditional 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. day are unable to help with activities immediately after school. They identified the perfect solution: the informal environment of Starbucks, the evening meeting time and college interns at the orthopedic companies as the tutoring resource.

Schutzman recruited fellow interns from orthopedic companies, while Scroggs spread the word at the high school. The initial focus was Math and Science, but the need arose for other subjects as well. Several teachers at the high school also began offering tutoring in the other subjects, based on students’ needs.

Schutzman’s current internship has ended, and she has returned to school at the University of Cincinnati to continue her degree in Biomedical Engineering. She intends to return to Warsaw in the fall for a second internship. She plans to pick up where she left off, helping interns get involved in the community. In the interim, Callan Bialorucki, a junior at the University of Toledo studying Bioengineering with a Pre-Med track, stepped into the role of organizing the interns for Study at Starbucks.

This program is more than a tutoring experience. Many of the participating students are at-risk, which means they do not lack the ability to learn but need that extra jolt of motivation to succeed in school.  “Since I’ve been given the opportunity to interact with these students, I have realized that some students do not necessarily have trouble understanding or comprehending material. They just do not see the value in a high school education and lack the motivation to give effort toward learning. If I can open the eyes of just one of these students to see how important high school can be to his or her future, the hours I’ve spent at Starbucks will be completely worth every second,” stated Bialorucki.

Students learn about their class subject matter and also benefit from the interns knowledge of study skills and organizational skills. The interns form a bond with the students and encourage them about life and post-secondary education. The students benefit from the unique chance to connect to young, successful, professional and motivated people.

Schutzman stated she hopes to grow Study at Starbucks when she returns to the area, both in attendance and in opportunities for students. “I’d like to develop some new initiatives and maybe offer mentorship programs. If this really takes off, I’d also like to get committees started for the interns, teachers and the students. The high school students would be able to play an important role in decisions regarding the program and other activities in which the group may participate. It gives them the opportunity to feel like they make a difference and are treated like adults. Plus, they can include this leadership experience on college resumés, which also benefits them in the long run.”

Thursday, May 17, was the last study session during the regular school year; however, activities are scheduled for the summer and fall.  “Interns are planning events that will coincide with Warsaw Downtown First Fridays,” stated Scroggs. This will give them the opportunity to meet the interns and WCHS staff in arelaxed environment.