Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Read At Local Schools
3/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Services
March 6, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.- Members of the Indiana athletic teams traveled to local schools recently to read to children as part of the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program to Read Across America.
Student-athletes from the men's and women's soccer, volleyball, football, men's basketball, women's cross country, women's golf, wrestling and men's and women's diving teams all participated in the program.
Read Across America is a national event organized by the National Education Association and held in celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday, March 2.
"It was a great opportunity for our student-athletes to get out in the community and promote reading and literacy," Assistant Athletic Director for Student Services Mattie White said. "This is an annual program that we've always gotten student-athletes involved in, and they enjoy sharing the importance of reading with students."
At Templeton Elementary, men's soccer players visited Ms. Ingram's and Ms. Stansbury's classes and read several books by Dr. Seuss, including "Oh, The Places You'll Go," "Green Eggs and Ham" and "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish." They also answered questions about being student-athletes at Indiana and signed autographs.
"It was a lot of fun," freshman forward Darren Yeagle said. "It was a good to go out and see that the kids enjoyed us reading to them. It's fun seeing how excited they get when you come to their school."
Members of the men's soccer team also read to students at Grandview Elementary and Lakeview Elementary.
"I read `I Am Not Going to Get Up Today!' because that's the way I feel every day," said sophomore midfielder John Mellencamp. "We handed out some stickers and team photos and made some new fans. It's great to get out there and talk to the kids."
