Study Connection celebrates its 37th year of connecting with students at the annual Celebration and Recognition Breakfast on August 28, 2025.
News release from the Fort Wayne Community Schools:
Volunteers and students honored at Study Connection celebration
Fort Wayne, Indiana (August 25, 2025) – Study Connection celebrates its 37th year of connecting with students at the annual Celebration and Recognition Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at Ceruti’s, 6601 Innovation Blvd. The event honors tutors and students for their dedication and accomplishments during the 2024-25 school year.
The celebration will feature award-winning children’s book author Gabrielle Balkan. She specializes in nonfiction books that captivate young readers by sharing fascinating and important facts about the United States and record-setting animals. As keynote speaker at the annual Study Connection breakfast, Balkan kicks off a new year of tutoring Fort Wayne Community Schools students throughout the community.
The breakfast also honors those who have given their time to improve students’ lives. The 2025 Mike McClelland Outstanding Volunteer is Kathy Adair and the team from First Presbyterian Church tutoring at South Wayne Elementary School; the 2025 Don Wolf Outstanding Student is Charlotte Mitchell, who was a 5th grader at Price Elementary last year and is currently enrolled at Northwood Middle School. Price partnered with Design Collaborative for Study Connection. Julie Mikolay, Student Advocate at Shambaugh Elementary School, who assists the Study Connection tutors at Bethany United Methodist Church, was named the 2025 Connie Dickey Outstanding FWCS Colleague.
Study Connection began in 1989, founded by Don Wolf, retired CEO and president emeritus of Do it Best Corp. Volunteers are matched one-to-one with FWCS students who need academic assistance. Students and volunteers meet weekly after school for one hour during the school year. This gives students a chance to receive extra homework help, meet a mentor in the community and learn about local career opportunities.
To get involved with or learn more about Study Connection, call 467-8811 or email communityprograms@fwcs.k12.in.us.
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