Questar provides high energy at Salt Lake school


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SALT LAKE CITY — Questar's energy does more than heat the building at Salt Lake's North Star Elementary. Its employees bring a different kind of energy that has turned up the heat on reading scores.

"Human energy is even more important, and we're fortunate we can provide that," said Questar employee Steve Chapman.

For the entire school year, the utility company has allowed about 50 of its employees to volunteer as tutors for struggling readers at North Star as part of KSL's Read Today program.

Employees are paired with "their" students, and each week they read one-on-one, test proficiency and track progress. Employees who take part say it is the highlight of their week.

"These kids are our future," said volunteer Sandra Ishii. "We want to help them the best we can."

Read Today threw a celebration assembly to help kids celebrate their dedication to reading and to help them thank their tutors. They gave a thunderous applause to Questar employees attending the assembly. Principal Lou Gardiner says there is no other way his school could provide this kind of individual attention to students.


You can't buy what these people contribute. One-on-one instruction with these kids. You should see our scores, they're climbing like mad!

–Lou Gardiner


"You can't buy what these people contribute. One-on-one instruction with these kids," he said. "You should see our scores, they're climbing like mad!"

Donna Bowman is the AmeriCorps volunteer who coordinates the Read Today program. She says over the weeks and months, students develop a relationship with the volunteers. They become caring adults in the lives of these students.

"Not only does it help build their reading skills and comprehension, it builds their self-esteem. And who doesn't need that?" Bowman said.

Questar was one of the first large Utah businesses to join the tutoring movement. Employees said they hope they can be an example to other companies to provide service that makes a difference for one hour a week.

Ishii said, "I think if everybody does just a little bit, we can make the world a better place."

To get your company "All-In" for education, go to readtoday.com.

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Nadine Wimmer

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