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lakeland stars students and mentors

Lakeland STARs

A part of the Scholars experience since 1996, the Lakeland STARs tutoring program connects current Scholars and Scholars undergraduate alumni with first- through sixth-grade students from nearby Paint Branch Elementary School.

As a Lakeland STARs tutor, you will work with students to enrich their academic experience. You will be matched one-on-one with a Paint Branch student and meet for 2.5 hours each week on a designated day (Wednesday or Thursday) throughout the semester. Tutoring sessions primarily take place in Centreville Hall. 

Structure

Lakeland STARs is coordinated through a partnership between the City of College Park Youth, Family & Senior Services, Paint Branch Elementary School, and College Park Scholars.

The City of College Park Youth, Family & Senior Services coordinates children's applications, funds the program, and provides administrative support and transportation. Paint Branch Elementary identifies a teacher liaison for the program, and teachers provide tips to the tutors on best practices in working with children. College Park Scholars recruits tutors, coordinates the day-to-day logistics of the program, and provides facilities in which the tutoring and enrichment activities occur.

Expectations

Students should be prepared to commit 2.5 hours to STARs every week. There are 10 sessions of STARs each semester. Refer to the tutoring schedule at the bottom of this page.

Each week, tutors meet in the lobby of Centreville Hall at 3:30 p.m. for important announcements and to prepare for the session. Once the children arrive, tutors will work with them on homework for about 45 minutes, followed by an enrichment activity for another 45 minutes. The children leave campus by 5:45 p.m.

How to Get Involved

Any current Scholars student, or undergraduate Scholars alum, may apply to become a Lakeland STARs tutor. 

Applications usually open at the beginning of each semester. Keep an eye out in the Scholars Weekly e-newsletter for the next application phase.

Fall 2025 applications are now being accepted! Submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10.

Student Coordinators

The STARs student leadership team can be reached at lakelandstars@umd.edu.

Portrait of Irene Jose

Irene Jose

Coordinator, Life Sciences alum
Portrait of Srihita Mylavarapu

Srihita Mylavarapu

Coordinator, Life Sciences alum
Portrait of Morgan Patnick

Morgan Patnick

Coordinator, Public Leadership alum
Portrait of Jayden Nji

Jayden Nji

Coordinator, Justice and Legal Thought alum
Portrait of Zach Vernick

Zach Vernick

Coordinator, Public Leadership student
Portrait of Rishi Makam

Rishi Makam

Assistant Coordinator, Life Sciences alum
Portrait of Nagomi Myers

Nagomi Myers

Assistant Coordinator, Global Public Health alum
Portrait of Erin Smith

Erin Smith

Assistant Coordinator, Justice and Legal Thought alum

For More Information

Portrait of Ashley Ogwo

Ashley Ogwo

Coordinator for Student Engagement, College Park Scholars

Tutoring Schedule

Fall 2025

SESSIONS WEDNESDAYS THURSDAYS
New Tutor Orientation & Fingerprinting Oct. 15 Oct. 16
Session 1 Oct. 22 Oct. 23
Session 2 Oct. 29 Oct. 30
Session 3 Nov. 5 Nov. 6
Session 4 Nov. 12 Nov. 13
Session 5 Nov. 19 Nov. 20
Session 6 Dec. 3 Dec. 4
Session 7 Dec. 10 Dec. 11
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