Celebrating More Than a Year of the Success Center
- info1466294
- May 11
- 4 min read
A little over a year ago, the Ice in Paradise Success Center quietly opened its doors with a simple mission: to give skaters a place where academic success could grow alongside athletic achievement.
Now, as we move into our second year, we are taking a moment to reflect on how much this special space has already meant to our community.
Tucked away upstairs at Ice in Paradise, the Success Center has become what many students lovingly call a “secret spot” — a warm, welcoming environment where skaters can decompress between lessons, complete homework, study for exams, and receive support from dedicated volunteer tutors.
For many young athletes, balancing school and skating is no small task. Long training days and demanding schedules can leave little time for homework or extra academic support. The Success Center was created to help bridge that gap, and over the past year, we’ve seen firsthand just how impactful that support can be.
Students have improved grades, built confidence in subjects like math and science, and developed stronger study habits. Families have shared stories of skaters who were struggling academically before finding encouragement and tutoring support through the center. One student even credited the Success Center with helping her place into standard-level math classes after initially being at risk of falling behind.
The Success Center would not exist without the vision and generosity of the Tuohy Foundation, whose support helped make the program possible. The foundation not only supplied the funding necessary to establish the center, but also strongly advocated for the creation of a dedicated homework and study space at the rink — a place where skaters could stay academically on track despite the demanding schedules that often come with extracurricular athletics.
Their belief was simple but powerful: student-athletes should never have to choose between pursuing the sports they love and succeeding in school.
Over the past year, that vision has become a reality. The Success Center has grown into a welcoming academic hub where skaters can receive tutoring support, complete homework between practices, and build confidence in the classroom alongside their progress on the ice.
Open Monday through Thursday from 2:30PM–6:30PM, the center now serves up to 15 skaters each week and continues to grow as more families discover the resource available to them.
Volunteers Make the Success Center Possible
The heart of the Success Center has always been its volunteers.
From the very beginning, generous community members have donated their time to help students stay on top of schoolwork while navigating the challenges of competitive athletics. Their patience, encouragement, and willingness to help have shaped the supportive culture that defines the center today.
As we continue growing into our second year, we are actively looking for additional volunteers to help facilitate open hours.
We especially need individuals who are comfortable tutoring middle school math and reading (or easier subjects). Whether you are a teacher, college student, retired professional, or simply someone who enjoys helping kids learn, your support can make a meaningful difference in a student’s life.
Interested candidates over the age of 18 are encouraged to contact the Success Center Director to set up a time to come in and submit background check information.
Please contact us at:
Learn more about volunteering here:
Please note: registration will close at midnight on the 20th, making the 19th the final day the item will be accessible.
Honoring 2025 Volunteer of the Year: Alicia Swanson
As we celebrate the Success Center’s continued growth, we also want to recognize one of our 2025 Volunteers of the Year, Alicia Swanson.
Alicia was one of the Success Center’s very first tutors and quickly became one of its most dedicated volunteers. Over the past year, she devoted countless hours to helping skaters improve academically, particularly in math and science. Many students directly credit Alicia’s tutoring with helping them raise their grades and better understand difficult material.
In a recent interview about the Success Center, one student shared that while taking a math exam, she found herself “thinking about what Alicia would tell me and remembering the steps.”
Beyond academics, Alicia brought warmth, consistency, and encouragement to every student she worked with. She helped create the welcoming environment that makes the Success Center feel less like a classroom and more like a community.
Last month, Alicia moved away from the area, leaving us without one of our primary volunteers. While we miss her tremendously, her impact continues to be felt throughout the Success Center every day.
We are incredibly grateful for the dedication, compassion, and care Alicia shared during her time at Ice in Paradise, and we are proud to recognize her as one of our 2025 Volunteers of the Year.
Looking Ahead
The Success Center began as an idea to support student-athletes both on and off the ice. Just over a year later, it has become an essential part of the Ice in Paradise community.
As we move forward into year two, we are excited to continue expanding the program, supporting more students, and building an even stronger network of volunteers and families who believe in the importance of academic success.
Thank you to the Tuohy Foundation, our volunteers, families, and supporters who continue to make the Success Center possible and has helped to make the Success Center what it is today. We cannot wait to see what the next year brings.
