Hanna Mandell After her freshman year at Westlake High School, Hanna Mandell decided she’d like to get involved in a community service project.

“I thought it would be better to find one I could stay with throughout high school,” she said. “It’s better than doing a bunch of things you can’t really commit to. I thought, what better way than to start my own?”

So she did.

Hanna went back to her elementary school, Lang Ranch, where her mother is a teacher, to “find out what the kids needed.”

She saw a lack of tutoring programs for kids who aren’t necessarily failing but still need help.

So Hanna created Brain Connection, a tutoring program that matches honors-level high school students with struggling fourthand fifth-graders at Lang Ranch.

Hanna, now a 15-year-old junior at Westlake, is in her second year running Brain Connection.

“It really benefits the kids that need help,” Hanna said. “With the economy, it’s hard for middle-income parents to be able to afford tutoring once a week. Brain Connection targets kids that aren’t necessarily failing. They just need a little boost.”

Hanna said between 10 and 25 Lang Ranch Wranglers come to Brain Connection each week.

She originally recruited the tutors—all students from Advanced Placement or honors programs— but now Brain Connection is advertised through Westlake High’s student government, the career center and the counseling office.

They help the students with homework, writing projects and reports, and studying for tests. They provide a form for teachers who may want to indicate where the students need additional help. Hanna said they also sometimes play learning games.

“I think they’re learning that it’s important to work hard in school,” Hanna said. “They may not be motivated to do well; we’re helping them build a stronger work ethic. And it’s supposed to be fun, not just a full hour of tutoring or homework. They like to come.”

Brenda Maley, whose daughter Carson attends Brain Connection, agreed.

“Carson enjoys her time at Brain Connection and looks forward to going on Thursdays,” she said. “The tutors provide direction and learning techniques, tricks and shortcuts, that will help her now and going forward. We appreciate the time and effort spent by the volunteers of BC.”

Carson said she likes the program “because all the tutors are really nice and helpful.”

Hanna said she loves seeing the kids’ progress in their studies and start earning better grades. She gets e-mails from parents who tell them how much their children have improved in school.

“It’s really beneficial for me knowing that I’m making a difference,” Hanna said. “I know that sounds cliché and everyone says that, but knowing that it’s really helping these select few kids in this small place, that’s what’s important to me.”

Hanna said she is very appreciative of Joe Pisani, the physical education coach at Lang Ranch, who serves as on-site supervisor of Brain Connection.

“He helps communicate with the teachers and is a great help to me because I cannot be there every week due to my schedule,” Hanna said.

Allison Ginter, a fifth-grade teacher at Lang Ranch, said Hanna exhibits all of the qualities she hopes to inspire in her former students.

“She is not only extremely intelligent but she makes the conscious decision to share her gift with others,” Ginter said. “Hanna’s Brain Connection program has matched up struggling elementary students with highachieving high school students. These students serve as both tutors and role models.”

Hanna has danced competitively for five years and joined her school’s dance team this year. She also volunteers at the Westminster Free Clinic.

She’s considering a career in the medical field after college.

Brain Connection is from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Thursdays at Lang Ranch Elementary School.

For more information, visit thebrainconnectiononline.com.