SACRAMENTO -- On this week's "The Big Spin®" Show, accomplished producer, actress and star of stage and screen, Joan Van Ark presented Calvin and Arlene Hilty with the California Lottery's "Heroes in Education" award. Van Ark has appeared on countless television shows including Wonder Woman, The Nanny and Touched By An Angel. Recently, Lifetime Television honored Van Ark with a one hour series – Intimate Portrait. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing in the television classic Dallas and Knots Landing.
Each week, Calvin and Arline Hilty from Strathmore, visit Sunnyside Union Elementary School to help its first grade teachers implement a reading program that requires each student to read one book per week to either one of the Hiltys. Many of Sunnyside's students are the children of farm workers and for some of them English is their second language. Having volunteers to read to, who are as easy going as the Hiltys, allows these struggling students to strengthen their reading skills in a comfortable environment.
Thanks to the Hiltys, these students are not only learning to read and speak better English, they are also getting better grades in school and improving their test scores. As a result, these students will ultimately improve their lives for years to come.
The California Lottery's distinguished "Heroes in Education" award has been presented monthly on "The Big Spin®" television show, since 1999. The Lottery partners with various celebrities to present these awards which recognize special individuals who devote their time and resources to their schools and communities. This week's show airs Saturday, October 18, 2003, in 12 television markets statewide.
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