On a frigid Saturday morning in January, former KALES ACT Preparatory Institute students Michella Parlett and Pauline Hryzodub trudged through the snow to help kick off the program’s 2014 winter session at Wayne State.

Designed to help high school students in Detroit improve ACT performance and overall test-taking skills, KALES hopes to instill the spirit of mentorship in its students. Partlett, a high school senior, and Hryzodub, a sophomore at WSU, are among a number of KALES graduates who now work as instructors.

“When I was asked to become an instructor, I was excited to teach in a program that helped me so much,” said Parlett, the first high school student to volunteer as a teacher for KALES.

Hryzodub is part of a student contingency at WSU that serves the program’s 10-week winter session.

“Going through KALES you get close to your peers and teachers, which builds an amazing support system,” said Hryzodub. “I’m proud to help give a student the same great experience I had.”

Since the program’s inception in 2009, students have improved their ACT scores by an average of three points. 

For more information, visit kales.wayne.edu.