Sister Marybeth McDermott, CSJ Receives Lifetime Service Award

Sister Marybeth McDermott was honored with the distinguished Lifetime Service to Literacy Award, presented by ABC Chicago TV’s Harry Porterfield, at the second English Success Awards Night, sponsored by School on Wheels and Tutors on Wheels.

When Sister Marybeth discovered a used library bookmobile in 1993, she converted it into a mobile classroom, and School on Wheels was born. She readily took courses to become an English literacy tutor and to train others. Starting with a group of 20 volunteers, the bus began making weekly visits to communities with large concentrations of adult immigrants who lacked transportation and access to adult literacy classes.

A recipient of numerous honors, Sister Marybeth served as director of the program for 15 years and expanded it to seven learning sites in Cook and DuPage counties. In that time, she trained nearly 1,500 tutors and welcomed more than 4,000 students through the doors of the School on Wheels’ bus.

In honor of Sister Marybeth’s service, an annual scholarship was established in her name. It will be used to help students curtail the cost of taking the test for U.S.A. citizenship, which is currently $695.

Sister Marybeth is also a trained pastoral care provider, and will soon provide counseling to inmates at the McHenry County Jail. Currently, she is active in immigration ministry, works for St. Joseph Press and provides after-school tutoring for children.