Alice Gao, a senior majoring in materials science and engineering, won the 2025 Tutor of the Year award.
The Office of Student Financial Aid has awarded America Reads/America Counts tutors since 2005, and in 2022, the award opened to all tutors employed at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
According to the website, “This award recognizes students who have made significant contributions to the UIUC campus & community.”
Out of 31 nominees, Gao won first place for her tutoring for the Center for Academic Resources in Engineering, also called CARE. By the end of this semester, she will have tutored for five semesters.
There were eight CARE nominees: Jon Coonley, Hayden Gantt, Wyatt Johnston, Rose Menichini, Sofia Orozco, Ruey-Bin “Ray” Tsai and Erik Velazquez.
CARE began in Fall 2012, according to its associate director, Dana Tempel. It has grown from 10 tutors to nearly 60. They serve first and second year students at The Grainger College of Engineering. All tutors are Grainger students who have demonstrated excellence inside the classroom but are engaged in many experiences within their departments, college or RSOs.
According to Emily Floyd, a Student Financial Aid administrator, the first-place winner is awarded a scholarship fund of $400 from the Office of Student Financial Aid. The runner-up receives $300 and $150 is given to each of the Honorable Mentions. Also, the Illini Union gifted a diploma frame for the winner and a picture frame for the runner-up. Each nominee receives a Certificate of Excellence.
“By recognizing their contributions and engagement, this award honors tutors who go above and beyond in supporting their peers and the University’s mission of transformative education,” Floyd said.
Gao began working drop-in hours in Spring 2023, and in Fall 2023 she became an establishing team lead for MATH 257, a linear algebra class. In Fall 2024, she taught a section of Peer Led Teams for MATH 257. Additionally, she has been an Engineering Learning Assistant for two years, where she teaches a section of ENG 100. Some of her other involvements include outreach and recruiting as an engineering tour guide, helping with New Student Registration over the summer, being a Learn-to-Skate Coordinator at the Campus Ice Arena, and participating in undergraduate research for seven semesters. She said her biggest leadership positions, both associated with her major, have been as the Secretary of Material Advantage and the Vice President of Keramos Honors Society.
Gao said she decided to be a tutor because she had tutored in the past and had friends working for CARE who recommended that she apply.
“I figured it would be a good way to keep my understanding of the core engineering classes sharp while giving back to the community,” Gao said.
In order to be eligible for this award, one has to be currently employed on campus as an undergraduate hourly student worker and employed for a minimum of six months. A student must be nominated and then the OFSA will evaluate the nominee based on community service, diversity & inclusion, leadership, technology & inclusion and critical thinking.
Floyd said the Tutor of the Year nomination letters are reviewed by the America Reads/America Counts Program Coordinator and members of a selection committee of University employees.
“According to Alice’s recommendation letter, she demonstrated exceptional initiative and commitment to Grainger’s tutoring program, consistently going above and beyond expectations,” Floyd said.
Gao said that she feels grateful, validated and surprised at receiving this award. She said there are many tutors who go above and beyond, but she appreciates her efforts being recognized by the University.
“I am also glad to see that this school values and celebrates students who give up their own time to help other students,” Gao said. “I hope this type of culture and community at Illinois is perpetually upheld.”
The most fulfilling moments for Gao as a tutor are when students are excited about succeeding on an exam or understanding a concept because of her help. Also, she helped hire, mentor and encourage new tutors for several application cycles, so watching them thrive has been fulfilling, she said.