Spring season hovers cryptically over many upperclassmen as their remaining undergraduate days wind down and a new stage in life approaches. But two alumni encourage students to work as hard as they can in school and beyond so that they can achieve and learn the most out of what life has to offer.

They haven’t just experienced this stage themselves — advice is part of their job. And students can receive their help before crossing the gates to college or even as early as high school.

Alumni Elizabeth and Taso Sotiropoulos help many students through Illini Tutoring, a local organization they founded in Champaign that offers coaching in several topics ranging from high school level to advanced college courses.

With six employed tutors and over 100 students tutored every semester, both Elizabeth and Taso said Illini Tutoring is the only local tutoring organization that provides coaching full-time and receives sponsorship from the National Tutoring Association.

The couple founded Illini Tutoring in fall 2010 after graduating from the University, although they said their business did not start as swiftly as it may seem.

Taso said he and Elizabeth were engaged, and considered graduate programs following college. However, the programs did not immediately appeal to them because of their work ethic, he said. They wanted to follow their own path after their time at the University, and work from there.

But no decisions were final — not yet, at least. Elizabeth took a gap year before graduate school so that she could spend more time with her soon-to-be husband. She said she always wanted to do something different with her life, and in college she thought medical school was her answer.

She called and sent her resume to many potential employers, expecting them to line up. But after several rejections, Elizabeth realized she needed to work harder than ever to reach her goals.

“Disappointment and rejection are completely normal parts of accomplishing great things, so (I tried to) view these as opportunities to learn and improve,” she said.

She began tutoring MCB courses part-time in the fall after her graduation, and for her it became much more than a way of making money on the side. Tutoring became her new life pursuit.

“This is what really gave me a sense of fulfillment,” Elizabeth said. “I had this really strong feeling telling me, ‘I don’t want to waste this.’”

Tutoring intertwines Elizabeth and Taso beyond shared passions — it is how they met. During their freshman year at the University, they met while living in the Nika residence house on campus. Taso helped Elizabeth with her Calculus coursework. Elizabeth said she immediately liked Taso, and usually tried to change the subject outside of academics. From there, she said the rest is history.

Elizabeth cancelled her medical school admission, as tutoring required her to work from 20 to 30 hours every week. Taso helped students in higher-level courses, and realized that tutoring could become a full-time career for him and Elizabeth as their schedules became “busier and busier.” Soon, high school students reached out to them, and their popularity among the local community continued to grow.

“It was really exciting for us to figure out Champaign needed a constant supply of tutors with … a committed place for people to get help,” Elizabeth said. “A lot of students were really intrigued with what we had to offer as more came aboard, which gave us a sense of ease to say, ‘This is going to last.’”

Illini Tutoring launched their own website and set up their home office in the Business and Technology Center on 701 Devonshire Drive in Champaign. Taso and Elizabeth hired four other part-time tutors to help with the influx of students. These tutors coordinate with students one-on-one to help them with their studies, Taso said. He said both him and Elizabeth operate single sessions in addition to group programs.

Bradley Stubbs, one of the part-time tutors who joined last fall and tutors in the statistics and mathematics courses, said he has enjoyed his time with Illini Tutoring.

“(Taso and Elizabeth) are very friendly and they give me a lot of flexibility and autonomy,” said Stubbs, graduate student in ACES. “They arrange introductions, but then it is up to the students and I to agree on how many times they want to meet and cover material. And I appreciate that.”

Many students have expressed their satisfaction with the program. Anna Yee, sophomore in ACES, contacted the program earlier this year since she knew she was in for a “grueling” semester. Yee said she loves her time with Illini Tutoring and is thankful for the help Elizabeth, Taso and other tutors have given her.

Although she said the knowledge gained equates to the amount of work students put into Illini Tutoring, Yee said the tutors help her reach her greatest potential.

“I am someone who doesn’t like to ask questions in class and thus immediately benefit from my one-on-one time with the Illini Tutors,” Yee said.

Taso emphasized Illini Tutoring’s unique programs, such as Parkland Pathways. Sponsored by the local community college, Taso said he coaches both local high school students and Parkland students hoping to transfer to the University.

“It’s a bit of a twist on the traditional ACT prep course,” Taso said. “We analyze pre-test scores and assign work based on their weaknesses, and we personally coach them with what they need help on the most.”

The couple also created Academic Coaching, a program that Elizabeth said helps high school students organize their passions in order to perform well with their activities. She said Academic Coaching also helps students remain realistic as they organize their lives to meet their personal goals, she said.

Mary Davis uses Illini Tutoring for her two children, Devon and Keaton. She said the program has led to great results for her children, who fit tutoring into their busy schedules.

“Sport season now makes everything ten times harder scheduling everything out, but Elizabeth’s been amazing at organizing meetings,” Davis said. “My kids say they feel better with their work, and it’s great that they can interact with the tutors at their own pace.”

Taso said he enjoys working with students who truly want to learn. For him, helping someone in a subject they try to do well in elevates his daily role above “just a job.” Elizabeth said she hopes that future Illini graduates will follow their interests amid new life pressures, as she and her husband have.

“Don’t just go the extra mile, go 10 miles more,” she said. “You can’t make everyone happy, so set your own rules. Make sure everyone knows them and play fairly.”

Adlai can be reached at [email protected].