17 May A true celebration of achievement
True story. Just before our May 6th graduation, a hardworking student at the Children’s Dyslexia Center of the Madison Area (CDCMA) easily decoded a word he did not already know. The word was prodigious. He broke the word down into three syllables, blended the sounds together, and knew it was an adjective because of the “ous.” His dedicated tutor then shared the definition as “remarkable and impressive” before she used it in a sample sentence: “You are a prodigious student who will take the tools you’ve gained here to be successful in life.”
Our fantastic tutors who pour hours into creating lesson plans always celebrate these special moments when a student is successful because of the type of instruction and support we provide. We celebrated 16 of these prodigious students during our 21st Annual Celebration of Achievement.
Every Celebration is different, just as every student is different. Our Guest Speaker was a student of the Center in 2004 and is now a nuclear engineer. He stated that “dyslexia isn’t a disability, it’s a difference. Difference is what keeps the world interesting.” Our Student Speaker, who is now learning Spanish, explained that “when it clicks, it turns from a puzzle into a portal.”
Our parent speakers mentioned gratitude for the opportunity to have their children learn here. Both agreed they have seen “miraculous” progress and improvement in self-esteem since their child’s journey began at CDCMA.
Our newest Celebration development is quickly becoming a favorite. One of the Masons from our long-time supporters, the Scottish Rite, Northern Jurisdiction, created a scholarship fund for previous graduates to help them continue their success beyond high school. One of the ten recipients, who is beginning college in Biomedical Sciences, mentioned in her speech that she was “taught here in a way that I learn.” CDCDMA is incredibly proud of the path of continuous learning that is being built by our dedicated staff, tutors, and students. It truly is a never-ending story!