Mountaineer Readers were recognized for their reading achievements during Appalachian State University’s Education Day football game on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
The Mountaineer Readers initiative began in the fall of 2007 as a partnership between the Reich College of Education (RCOE), the Public School Partnership (PSP), and App State Athletics with the purpose of supporting literacy in our surrounding counties. The group included 760 students from 36 schools in twelve different partnering Public School Units (PSUs).
The PSP provides a beneficial collaboration between App State, RCOE, and P-12 public schools in Northwest North Carolina. It includes schools and school districts from the following areas: Academy at Middle Fork, Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Elkin City Schools, Hickory Public Schools, McDowell, Mount Airy City Schools, Newton-Conover City Schools, North Carolina School for the Deaf, North Carolina School of Science and Math, Watauga, Wilkes, and Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
Making Connections
In addition to attending the football game, the top readers were treated to a virtual gathering via Zoom, where they met with student-athletes and Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm, director of the RCOE Public School Partnership.
Everyone shared their favorite books and school subjects. The readers also had the opportunity to ask questions of the App State students about being a student-athlete.
“We are so honored to bring these hard-working students and their families to our campus each year to celebrate their love for reading,” said Rosenbalm. “Our App State student-athletes and RCOE staff love engaging with these students and welcoming them to the High Country, as well!”
“We will enjoy bringing all 2024 Mountaineer Summer Reader participants to an App State baseball game in the spring of 2025, as well,” she added. “In this program, everyone benefits!”
The overall top readers were:
- From the Academy At Middle Fork:
- Grade 1: Alexa Fuentes
- Grade 2-3: Sophie Vaca
- Grade 4-5: Isaac Thompson
- From Alleghany County:
- Grade 2-3: Annemarie Harris
- Grade 4-5: Nora Harris
- Grade 6-8: Caleb Wagner
- From Alexander County:
- Grade 1: Madison Bowman
- Grade 2-3: Ace Atwood
- Grade 4-5: Kate Bowman
- Grade 6-8: Aubrey Powell
- From Ashe County
- Grade 1: Connor Keziah
- Grade 2-3: Clara Baldwin
- Grade 4-5: Sabe Douglas
- Grade 6-8: Maggie Sexton
- From Avery County:
- Grade 1: Saylor Smith
- Grade 2-3: Sawyer Stevens
- Grade 4-5: Raegan Thompson
- From Burke County:
- Grade 1: Ross Taylor
- Grade 2-3: Emily Melton
- Grade 4-5: Alexander Deal
- Grade 6-8: Michaela Hoyle
- From Caldwell County:
- Grade 1: Raelynn Potter
- Grade 2-3: Dixon Clonch
- Grade 4-5: Grayson Kennedy
- Grade 6-8: Ryan Simms
- From Catawba County:
- Grade 1: Hank Dellinger
- Grade 2-3: Jaxon Welner
- Grade 4-5: Miles Gettys
- Grade 6-8: Zoe Gates
- From Elkin City Schools:
- Grade 1: Shiloh Dancy
- Grade 2-3: Harper Richardson
- Grade 4-5: Joseph Vences
- From Newton-Conover City Schools:
- Grade 2-3: Jaxon Freeland
- Grade 4-5: Vincent Freeland
- From Watauga County:
- Grade 1: Mila Brady
- Grade 2-3: Mae Ellington
- Grade 4-5: Caleb Hawes
- Grade 6-8: Kaylee Ward
- From Wilkes County:
- Grade 1: Elliott Wehrmann
- Grade 2-3: Grayson Hodge
- Grade 4-5: Allie Hodge
- Grade 6-8: Brianna Quinones
At the game, students received a pencil pouch of school supplies and goodies. For many of these students, it was their first college football game — for others, their first visit to a college campus. The game day weather was perfect fall football weather, and all had a great time!
About Mountaineer Readers
For 17 years, the Mountaineer Readers initiative has encouraged and celebrated reading at area schools.
This year, participating students read books of their choosing during the summer months and recorded their reading on a log provided by App State Athletics. Students then turned the log in to their school’s media center coordinator the first week of school.
RCOE processed a tally sheet from each school and announced the top readers in grades first through eighth in each county. These top readers were recognized at App State's annual Education Day football game.
In addition to the recognition of the top readers, the top schools with the most pages read were Westwood Elementary (Ashe County), Dudley Shoals Elementary (Caldwell County), Wilkesboro Elementary (Wilkes County), Millers Creek Elementary (Wilkes County), and Hardin Park Elementary (Watauga County). They will receive a customized school-specific videofeaturing App State coaches and student-athletes and a Certificate of Achievement for presentation at the school level.
The top two classrooms were Wanda Rutledge’s second grade classroom at Millers Creek Elementary (Wilkes County) and Jody Davidyak’s seventh grade classroom at Jacobs Fork Middle (Catawba County). These classrooms will receive an ice cream party and a Certificate of Achievement for presentation at the school level.
All participants and their school library media coordinators will receive App State branded treats in the mail, as well as a free voucher for an App State Baseball game in the spring of 2025.
Mountaineer Readers on the Jumbotron waving
