The Campus Y supports student leadership development by connecting students’ passions to meaningful community engagement. They are the largest community service organization on campus with over 20 outreach programs and over 500 volunteers annually. They also hire student employees to support office operations on campus as well as literacy in the St. Louis community through the America Reads program, a national initiative focused on improving children’s reading skills.
Name: Kate Choi
Year: Class of 2025
Major: Cognitive Neuroscience
On-campus job title: America Reads Tutor
On-campus job department: Campus Y
Kate Choi was drawn to the America Reads program because of the focus on community service and the flexible hours which allowed her to hold other jobs, “I love the impact I can make in the St. Louis community while also financially supporting my studies.”
After delving into the work, she formed a deeper appreciation for the kind of impact she was able to have, “I tutor children in the St. Louis community, where the need for literacy support is especially urgent. I see the racial and socioeconomic disparities in St. Louis and how that manifests in stark contrast between public and private schools. An alarming 80% of students in public schools are not reading at grade level. Literacy interventions that America Reads implements help bridge this gap. Growing up in an educationally affluent neighborhood, I was used to helping students who wanted to get ahead. In St. Louis, tutoring serves a different purpose—it can change the trajectory of a child’s life. With each session, I see their confidence grow as they master new skills, and it’s a powerful reminder of how access to education shapes opportunity.”
Kate’s supervisor and Executive Director of the Campus Y, Laura Lytle, explains how Kate not only tutored individual children, but also helped to build new relationships with community partners and grow the program “Kate piloted the University of Florida Literacy Institute’s (UFLI) phonics curriculum in partnership with the St. Louis Public Library to serve youth who may need reading support and were not getting that support in school. The pilot expanded to 2 library sites in the spring and partnered with St. Louis Public Schools to bring in tutors during the school day. Kate worked with all of the UFLI partners, recruited America Reads tutors, and supported the program’s assessments.”
“It was a pleasure working with Kate on this program,” says Joe Monahan, Manager of Youth Services at St. Louis Public Libraries. “This was our first year offering reading tutoring at the public library, which looks very different from tutoring in school settings. Kate was a responsive partner as we problem-solved together and adjusted the program to provide the best possible experience for kids. Feedback from participants was extremely positive, and almost every kid who stuck with tutoring showed significant improvement in their reading skills. Kate was a big part of making this happen!”
While Kate’s work has strengthened the Campus Y’s community involvement and supported the reading skills of individual students, she’s also seen how the job has positively impacted her career goals, “Through tutoring, I’ve learned to be reliable, adapt my approach when students struggle, and build meaningful connections with children. Each student learns differently, so I’ve developed the ability to problem-solve in real time by breaking concepts down further, using visuals, or just offering encouragement. These moments have helped me grow not only as a teacher, but also as a patient, attentive listener. I believe these traits will support me well as a future physician, where understanding, adaptability, and empathy are essential to care.”
Want to get involved with the Campus Y? Follow them on Instagram @washu_campusy or stop by their offices in the lower level of Umrath Hall. Student employment positions, when available, are posted on Handshake.
Written by Sarah Sims, August 8, 2025
