Mountaineer Readers Celebrated at Appalachian Football Game on October 21

Mountaineer Readers were recognized for their reading achievements at halftime of the Appalachian State University Education Day football game on Saturday, October 21, 2017.

The group included 26 students, who were the top readers in their grade levels, from schools in 10 area counties:

  1. Alexander
  2. Alleghany
  3. Ashe
  4. Avery
  5. Burke
  6. Caldwell
  7. Elkin
  8. Mitchell
  9. Watauga
  10. Wilkes

Mountaineer Readers came ready to play

Prior to the game, the students and their guests toured Appalachian's athletic facilities and were treated to a tailgate lunch hosted by the Reich College of Education (RCOE). 

At the game, the students were recognized by name, school and county and were greeted on the field by Chancellor Sheri N. Everts, RCOE Dean Melba Spooner, Athletic Director Doug Gillin and Yosef. 

Mountaineer Readers greeted on the field by RCOE Dean Spooner, Chancellor Everts, AD Gillin and YosefPhoto by Marie Freeman

The weather was perfect! Mountaineer Readers and guests enjoyed their time on campus and at the game.

About Mountaineer Readers

The Mountaineer Readers initiative began in the fall of 2007 as a partnership between RCOE and App State Athletics with the purpose of supporting literacy in our surrounding counties. 

A reader poses with Yosef

Athletics creates a program overview flier and reading log; both documents are distributed to all potential participating schools. Students read during the summer months and record their reading on the log. They then turn the log into their school’s media center coordinator the first week of school.

RCOE processes a tally sheet from each school and announces the top readers in grades 1-3, 4-6, and 7-8 in each county. These top readers and up to three guests are invited to Appalachian's annual Education Day football game.

Mountaineer Readers and guests at the game

Additionally, the class in each county with the highest percentage of readers receives a visit from Yosef, and each student completing a reading log receives a free basketball ticket.

2017 Highlights

  • Fliers promoting the program and book tally sheets were distributed to 97 schools in the 10 participating counties.
  • Over 50% of the schools completed the program. 
  • 810 student readers participated, who collectively read 21,968 books.
  • 10 schools earned a visit from Yosef.
  • 810 student readers earned a basketball ticket.

Chancellor Everts poses with a Mountaineer ReaderPhoto by Marie Freeman

An Appalachian family

Mountaineer Readers at the Education Day football game
Published: Nov 1, 2017 9:38am

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