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A group of University of Maryland, College Park, students was honored Tuesday for its work with local elementary school students.

The College Park City Council honored the participants in Lakeland STARS, a program that tutors students at Paint Branch Elementary School, during Tuesday's council meeting. The tutors in attendance posed for pictures with Mayor Stephen Brayman and were given certificates of recognition.

Jay Teston, principal at Paint Branch Elementary, said the program has helped students improve their grades and become more interested in pursuing a college education.

"It's become embedded in the culture of the school," he said.

Lakeland STARS was established in 1996 as a partnership between the elementary school and university.

The program provides weekly, two-and-a-half-hour tutoring sessions for 50 students in grades 1- 6. The young tutees are referred to as "STARS" - Students Taking Active Responsibility.

"This really is a great program. I can't stress that enough," said Gary Hersey, a senior tutor in the program. "I've had a lot of fun with it and it's really rewarding at the same time."

The sessions are held most weeks on the College Park campus. Fifty college students participate and each is paired with a single student over the course of a semester.

The tutors help their students with homework and participate in enrichment activities including visits to on-campus attractions like the university's solar-powered Leaf House.

Joseph Weinstein, a sophomore economics major, said that after an adjustment period, he and his student have developed a rapport.

"I've really gotten to know him and really gain his trust a little bit," said Weinstein, a first-time participant in the program. "I think he's really improved throughout the semester."

Among the students at Tuesday's meeting, Hersey was honored for serving as a Lakeland STARS tutor for all eight semesters of his college career.

"Every year, there's a wait list of students and kids that want to be tutored for the program," said Hersey, who will graduate this spring and attend Tulane University Law School in New Orleans this fall.

"Hopefully, I can continue in public service."

Both the tutors and their students said they have gotten a lot out of the program. Paint Branch fourth-grader Breianna Fields said she's shown marked improvement during her three years in the program.

"My tutor's helping me with my work," said, Breianna, 10. "It's pretty good. It's helping make my grades go up."

Kerry Fitzpatrick, a senior hearing and speech science major, said she has developed relationships with many of the students she's met in her seven semesters as a tutor.

"When I ride my bike home from school, I see all the kids that I know from tutoring," she said. "That's the highlight of my day."

Brayman thanked the program's participants for their service.

"When the community and the university are working hand-in-hand, it's amazing what can be done," he said. "We're certainly proud."

E-mail David Hill at dhill@gazette.net.