2010 Recognition Banquet a Big Success VITA held its 29th Annual Recognition Banquet at Vermilionville on Sunday, September 26, 2010. Mistress of Ceremonies was Bernadette Lee Deckard of KPEL 96.5 News Radio. Lafayette and Opelousas students and tutors were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the VITA program. Bernadette Lee Deckard of KPEL 96.5 News Radio was the Mistress of Ceremonies at the 29th Annual Recognition Banquet. Student testimonies were given by Gregory Elaire, a Lafayette student, and Verna Sago of Opelousas. The tutor address was given by Brenda Glover. Brenda Daniel led the "Pledge of Allegiance". James Jenkins said the closing prayer. Musical entertainment was provided for everyone's enjoyment, and special thanks to Jay Caldwell for his photographs of the event. Achievement Award Recipients Student Cory Bordelon Theresa Cormier Sunny Palmer Soriya Lim Patricia DeVille Tutor Cheryl Blum Janvier Balser Carol Antosiak Janel Fontenot Stephanie Chavis Lora Watley Outstanding Tutors Evelyn Hackett Joyce Henson Phyllis Ledet Johanna Murdock Paulette Rawdon Think Like a Winner Award Gregory Elaire The Martin Award Akossiwa Afanou Bob Chaney The Don Littlefield Memorial Award Ronald Fontenot The Donna Groth Delhomme Memorial Award Bruce Snow Board Members Sworn in by Clerk of Court The 2010-2011 VITA Board members were sworn in by Clerk of Court, Louis Perret on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 in the VITA Training Room. Bruce Snow, new to the board this year, and 15 other members took part in the oath of office. Out-going board president, John Hiatt, received a clock commemorating his 3 years of service. Dr. Huey McCauley, retired ULL Director of The Office of Student Teaching, will act as new president. Other officers include: Vice President, Bill Bowers, Treasurer, John Hebert, and Secretary, Gene Cole. Louis Perret, Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court swears in VITA Board. Driver's License Class Offered Daytime students were able to improve their understanding of Louisiana driving laws and regulations in November and December with the help of volunteer tutor, Michael Lell. A UL student, Lell designed and taught the class to help VITA students take and successfully pass the driving test. Students learned about road signs, road markings, defensive driving, and safe-driving techniques. "I really like the way Michael is teaching the class," said Brenda Daniel, a VITA student. "I'm learning a lot, and I'm more confident because he's helping me understand it better than if I studied on my own." The class will be offered again later in 2011. Downtown Alive! Good Music, Great Raffle VITA was the featured non-profit organization at a recent Downtown Alive! concert on Friday, November 5, 2010. The popular South Louisiana band, Lil' Band of Gold, performed at Parc San Souci. VITA hosted a booth where event participants learned more about becoming a tutor and bought 50/50 raffle tickets. Tickets were drawn at 8:00 pm. Braxton Perez of Baton Rouge won, with the rest of the proceeds going to VITA. Downtown Alive events are scheduled in the fall and spring on Friday nights at Parc San Souci and Parc Internationale. Each week, a non-profit has an opportunity to be featured. Throughout the event announcements are made about the non-profits and their missions. Special thanks to the staff, to all who purchased raffle tickets and to our tutors, Carissa McDaniel and Angela Fangue who helped with the raffle. Angela Fangue, Emily Marcantel, and Norma Guidry under VITA tent at Downtown Alive! VITA Student Becomes US Citizen Natasha, a physician in her home country of Russia, hopes to become an accredited doctor in the United States. Natasha Allgood, a VITA student of four years, recently became an American citizen on May 27, 2010. Natasha, a physician in her home country of Russia, is currently working as a technician in a local Ear, Nose, and Throat and Allergy Clinic but hopes to become an accredited doctor in the United States. A big step in that plan was to become a citizen. Natasha came to America in 1994 and married her husband, John. She learned about VITA from a friend and was soon matched with Faith Hamilton, her tutor. "Faith is not just my tutor, she is my best friend too," states Natasha. Natasha credits her success to the student/ tutor coordinators at VITA as well as her husband, relatives, friends, and colleagues. Christmas Coffee Held at Lafayette Museum VITA tutor Lynne Castle and her student Delores Labbe enjoying the Christmas Coffee Students and tutors gathered at the Lafayette Museum to celebrate the holiday season on Wednesday, December 15, 2010. Guests of the museum toured the house, drank coffee and punch, sang carols, and enjoyed sweets from 10 am to 12 pm. "I had a ball!" said Delores Labbe, a VITA student. "And, my tutor [Lynne Castle] did too." The highlight of the event for many students was the caroling. Audrey Martin, a part-time VITA staff member and tutor, led the carols and stated, "I enjoyed the highly spirited singing of everyone and was amazed by how many good voices joined in." The highlight of the event for many students was the caroling. Audrey Martin, a part-time VITA staff member and tutor, led the carols and stated, "I enjoyed the highly spirited singing of everyone and was amazed by how many good voices joined in." The historic Lafayette Museum was the home of Alexandre Mouton, the 12th governor of Louisiana and built by the founder of Vermilionville, Jean Mouton. The antebellum house collection includes paintings and antiques of the period, as well as Mardi Gras costumes from past balls. This year is VITA's second Christmas Coffee at the Lafayette Museum. Audrey Martin leads students and tutors in Christmas carols. Huval, Newest Member of Opelousas Staff Amy Huval is the newest part-time member of the Opelousas staff. A mother of two girls, Joie (3) and Marah (7 months) and married to Troy, Amy manages the office in the afternoon by assisting the teachers, registering new students, creating diagnostic reports and writing student educational prescriptions. Amy is a 2009 graduate of the Opelousas School of Cosmetology, a certified paralegal and expects to graduate in May 2011 from ULL in Criminal Justice. Amy hopes to one day be a Forensic Auditor. Welcome, Amy! Good News Dancilla and Benoit McCarthy became US citizens in October 2010. Inez Sibilia received her La. Driver's license in October. Delores Labbe read to preschool students in November. Tutor Support Meeting January 25, 2011 6:00 - 7:00 pm Tutor Training Workshop February 10 & 17, 2011 5:00 - 7:30pm Presidential Volunteer Service Awarded to Tutors Fifty-three VITA volunteers, contributing at least 100 hours of their time to the literacy effort, received a certificate of achievement and congratulatory letter from the president at the 29th Annual Recognition Banquet held Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Vermilionville. The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions that volunteers were making in our communities and encourage more people to serve. The council created the Presidential Volunteer Service Award to thank and honor Americans who, by their commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. Bronze Service Award Jamie Anfenson-Comeaux Carol Antosiak Barbara Batiste Cheryl Blum Ronnie Boudreaux Stefani Celio Ernesto Egoavil Ruth Ettinger Evelyn Fontenot Bradley Goins Evelyn Hackett Diane Hebert Genevieve Ingraldi Geneva Laurent Phyllis Ledet Johanna Murdock Charles Poimbouef Sylvia Poimbouef Paulette Rawdon Sandra Robertson Patricia Segura Ramona Stonecipher Carol Wong Silver Service Award Florence Arnold Elias Davila Brenda Glover Faith Hamiltion James LaFleur Nelson Landry Michael Noonan John Richard Shannon Sonnier Cathy Swords Rana Wright Gold Service Award Sally Belanger Blanche Blalock Lynne Castle Marie Chaney Robert Chaney Chris Cretini Angela Fangue VIrginia Finley Norman Foret John Hiatt Karen Jeffers Dianne Judice Connie Melancon Ramaswamy Mysore Roxanne Roy Fred Sierveld Bruce Snow Dennis Sullivan Alicia Towster Day of Literacy Celebrated in Lafayette Parish Schools Three VITA tutors participated in United Way's second annual Day of Literacy on Wednesday, October 28, 2010 at Duson Elementary. Denise Benoit, Angela Fangue, Phyllis Ledet and Janel Fontenot, VITA staff member, read to fourth graders The Wednesday Surprise, a story about a young girl teaching her grandmother to read. Day of Literacy aims to increase awareness of the importance of early grade literacy and the impact reading with children has on school readiness and academic performance. Tutors Denise Benoit, Angela Fangue, and Phyllis Ledet and Janel Fontenot, VITA staff member, read The Wednesday Surprise to Duson Elementary students in October. GED Graduate Wants to Have Own School Wilton Journet, age 24, lives in Grand Coteau. He graduated from VITA with his GED in October of 2010. Wilton began studying Tae Kwan Do at the early age of 5 where he trained under Michael Satsumi of Tokyo. He later attended the Martial Arts Academy in Tokyo for one and a half years and has recently received his Master level in Tae Kwan Do. Wilton said his greatest challenge was to learn to work within the honor code of martial arts. This means to respect issues of anyone, to not use his abilities to hurt someone, to not fight unless he has to, and to use his abilities to help people. He currently has 6 young students, and his goal is to have his own school. Welcome to Our New Tutors September Workshop Denise Benoit Lloyd Boulet Clint Caldwell Heather Darby Susan Derise Natasha Dupuy Minnie Hickman Angela King Emily Marcantel Vera McCrae Julie Mouton Elizabeth Parker Ella Savoy Miriam Sundram November Workshop Richard Alexander Linda Anderson Carol DeMoura Barbara Dronet Annlouise Dufort Alvoro Dupre' Rachel Green Linni Haines Trent Haines Samantha Hoffpauir Laquisha Malveaux Patty Prather Jim Privat Congratulations to GED Diploma Recipients September Marley Cormier Ty Fontenot Casey Chambers Marcus Decou Keishawnia Guillory Dante Gaines October Nyoshia Thomas Donovan Sam Victoria Smith Wilton Journet Alexis Bourdreaux December Ashley Perrodin Devin Durio Nakeetha Savoy Holly Taylor Stephen Wilson