Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies (JUMP) is a Toronto-based
non-profit organization that tutors elementary level students in
mathematics. Since its launch in 1998, JUMP has grown
exponentially and now tutors over two thousand students annually.
Anthony Stracuzzi, a third-year Civil & Environmental
Engineering student, first heard about JUMP while attending a
seminar at the First Year Integrated Conference in 2003. Since
then, Stracuzzi has been working closely with JUMP's Program and
Partnership Director, Laura Miggiani, to bring the JUMP program to
the London area.
Earlier this year, Stracuzzi conducted a pilot
run with London's first partner school, Aberdeen Elementary, with
great success. On Thursday, October 14 thirteen Western
Engineering students attended a training session in SEB. The first semester
sessions will run from the last week of October until the first week
of December, with more to come in the New Year.
An important aspect of JUMP's program is its
acceptance of a variety of tutors. The Toronto-based program
does not limit their volunteers to just students. They have
recruited professionals such as doctors, lawyers, teachers and other
community members. Stracuzzi hopes to bring this concept to
London and allow the involvement of various societal leaders in the
education of London youths.
"In the coming months I hope to raise awareness
of our program as well as funding. I take great pride in
Western, and especially in my faculty (Faulty of Engineering)," says
Stracuzzi. "I believe that the involvement of our students in
this program will benefit the community as a whole."
