Brian Jeffries - Winner of the Ruth J. Colvin and Frank C. Laubach Award for Student Excellence 2003

Diagnosed in adolescence with dyslexia, Brian Jeffries attended special schools and sought help for his reading. At 21, he still read at a second-grade level. After two and a half years of tutoring with the St. Petersburg Literacy Council in Florida, he raised his skills to nearly 11th-grade level.

During that time, Brian moved from short-term jobs to a permanent job in the delicatessen at a local supermarket. His first day was difficult, with new words to learn and customers who expected him to fill their orders quickly. His increasing self-esteem, strong work ethic, and commitment to his job have led to greater responsibilities and the invitation to take the assistant manager's exam. He is studying to take the GED, and college courses are now a real possibility rather than an impossible dream.

In addition to working full time and being tutored two evenings a week, Brian participates in a monthly reading group. He has also helped with the annual picnic, participated in group fund-raising and recruitment efforts, and served on his affiliate's board of directors. He continues to contribute ideas, such as the suggestion to collaborate with local college education departments to train tutors.

With his new self-confidence and skills, Brian has been willing to go public with his struggle and has become an articulate spokesperson for literacy programs. He was interviewed for a story in the St. Petersburg Times newspaper, for a radio program, and for a half-hour television show on literacy that was broadcast in June 2003. He appeared in a local Fox TV news segment and on the local NBC affiliate in a live segment about the need for literacy volunteers. He also represented the Literacy Council at the "Classroom at the Capital" event in Tallahassee and made an impromptu speech at the Florida literacy conference.

Brian is working on developing a new talent as a motivational speaker. He has met with an expert to train for his new role and is looking forward to helping nonreaders find help.