Way to Go: Glen Cove sophomore Elias Blinkoff

Elias Blinkoff started with a free period and ended up creating a tutoring program.

A Glen Cove High School sophomore, he has spearheaded a Students for Students program that awards community service credit to student tutors who work with classmates. All seniors are required to complete 50 hours of community service to graduate.

The program now has 10 tutors, each helping one to three students in various subjects. The idea began when Blinkoff and guidance counselor Antonie Samuels decided last year that Blinkoff should use a free period to help others, particularly English as a Second Language students.

"Basically, I get referrals from the guidance department of students that need assistance," said Blinkoff, 16, who said he then uses a spreadsheet to match them up with tutors. He hopes to double the number of tutors by the spring.

Each tutor must have a grade average of 95 or above in the subject in which they plan to tutor, Blinkoff said. Next month's Nassau Counselors Association's newsletter, NewsCAster, will include an essay he wrote summarizing the tutoring program.

The school continues to offer traditional extra help with teachers, but "some kids feel more comfortable working with another student instead," Samuels said.