There are many ways that Stark students receive additional academic help on campus.  “Study Buddies” and “Off your Rockers”  are two groups that partner retired community members with students needing more reading practice.

Study Buddies was created by Bert Alexander in 2011.  Bert is a passionate Farmers Branch resident who is also the Fire Department Chaplin.  The Study Buddy volunteers live at Emeritus, an assisted living center.

They are unable to live on their own anymore due to health and age-related issues. However, they can assist in the learning process of children and they do so in a marvelous way!

They are incredibly patient with the students, they are kind, and they emulate good manners. Some of them have a cane or walker and at least one is in a wheelchair.  We have one married couple, the Saunders, who have been married 72 years and they love the program.