Last Saturday, University students willingly dragged themselves out of bed to take practice exams at 10 a.m. -- and to help a good cause.
The University chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society organized the graduate school entrance exams practice tests in New Cabell Hall, to give students practice with standardized tests and to raise money for charity.
Approximately 80 students attended the event, which charged $5 to take a practice version of the LSAT, GRE, GMAT or MCAT tests to be scored by Kaplan, a national test preparatory organization.
The Charlottesville Kaplan center provided the testing materials and proctors for the event, which raised $345 to be donated to Special Friends, a student-run service organization geared toward helping Charlottesville students with special learning needs.
"We were able to provide the exam for the students and to donate to a good cause at the same time," Golden Key Treasurer Jay Rosenberger said.
Doug Myers, president of the University's Golden Key chapter, said the money raised by the event will serve an important role.
"We were aiming to help an organization that doesn't have significant funding," Myers said. "We didn't want our donation to just be a drop in a bucket."
With the aid of the donation, Special Friends President Suzy Quartuccio said she ultimately hopes to increase the size and impact of the organization.
"We want to expand from the elementary level to include middle and high school students," Quartuccio said. "We would also like to use the money to help recruit more volunteers."
Special Friends, founded in the fall of 2000 by Fifth-year Education student Mary Ellen Bizzarri, claims a membership of approximately 50 volunteers. The organization coordinates volunteer services for a local organization called Friendly Faces, which provides attention to elementary students in special education programs.
Special Friends also provides volunteers for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, the Virginia Institute of Autism and the Special Olympics.
Quartuccio said Special Friends aims to widen awareness of the needs of those they help.
"The students and the teachers are so thankful for our help," Quartuccio said. "We want to educate others about the needs of students in the community."
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