By Ashley Roberts
WSLS10 Reporter
Published: February 13, 2008

Virginia Tech students organize a foreign languange program in honor of their teacher, Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, who was killed on April 16.

John Welch says he came up with the program called “Teach for Madame” after the university challenged students to complete 300,000 hours of community service.

He says the french program gives back to the community, and at the same, pays tribute to one of his favorite teachers.

Welch and six others teach french to about 50 Harding Elementary students.  The program started in January.

“I think she’d be really proud of us, to see that she has inspired her students to go and carry on her legacy,” says Welch.

Early Advantage Incorporated, out of Connecticut, donated the curriculum for the program.

Welch hopes the French program will oneday expand past the doors of Harding Elementary, into other communities around the world.