A wall on the back of the room covered with bright-colored paper and photos of smiling faces welcomes students to Young Minds in Education (YME), an after school tutoring program organized by the Welcome Center.

"It's a great program for kids who are having problems at school and need extra help and cannot get it at home,"

said assistant facilitator of YME Anita Ulwelling.

Organizers of the program who put it together last year to help Latino students noticed that Latino students were not the only ones struggling with their school work. "It's not only for minority kids. We take everyone who needs help," Ulwelling said.

Students fill out an application stating the areas they need help and parents sign a form authorizing release of the progress of the students for their teachers. Once the students have decided to visit the tutoring sessions, they encouraged to talk to all the tutors.

"We try to match the tutor and student according to their personalities so they feel comfortable and can work well on the assignments," said Lisvel Valerio, the program coordinator.

Currently the program has 15 tutors, most of them are sociology students from the Riverland Community College. Valerio said she is happy and surprised that the tutors, most being students themselves, are willing to donate their time to help other students.

Michael Stover, an 11th grader at Lyle High School who has been attending the tutoring sessions since the beginning of the school year, said his grades have gotten better.

"It's really nice. They don't even know you but they talk to you and ask you what you need help with," Stover said.

The tutors and the students set a schedule anyday between 3:15 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Tutors assist with math, English, writing and science.

Tiffany Stevens one of the tutors and a student doing post-secondary at Ridgeland, said the program is a great opportunity to put in some volunteer work.

"I help students with anything I can help them with; if I can't I just ask another tutor," Stevens said.

The program is now trying to target students at the junior high level. Valerio said she hopes to find transportation for about 20 ESL students from Ellis Middle School who could use the tutoring so when they get to high school, they are ready to handle the school work and obtain a higher grade point average.

Activities in he program include cooking sessions, and field trips.

Tutoring sessions are at the Hormel Home at 408 Fourth Ave. NW in the carriage house For information, call the Welcome Center at 434-2863.

Roxana Orellana can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at roxana.orellana@austindailyherald.com