Indiana University Athletics
Hoosier Athletes, Coaches Celebrate Read Across America
3/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Services
March 7, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana University Athletics hosted students from Binford and Rogers elementary schools at Assembly Hall on Friday, as athletes and coaches came together to bring a weeklong recognition of the Read Across America celebration to a close. Men's basketball coach Dan Dakich encouraged the students to keep reading, field hockey coach Amy Robertson stressed the importance of exercising the brain and football coach Bill Lynch read Horton Hears a Who.
Beginning Monday, Indiana athletes have been visiting area elementary schools, reading books to classes and encouraging students to read. Friday's event on Branch McCracken Court wrapped up Dr. Seuss birthday celebration week.
The event began with a few words from men's basketball team captain, D.J. White, who was followed by Dakich. Dakich asked the students about their favorite books and encouraged them to continue to read.
Robertson led the students in a few team-building exercises and read them a poem written by a member of the field hockey team. Robertson equated reading to exercise, in that it strengthens the brain like a muscle.
Lynch then read the Seuss classic, Horton Hears a Who, to the children before taking some questions from the excited onlookers.
The children were given an opportunity to ask questions and get autographs from the student-athletes in attendance before receiving a tour of Assembly Hall. The event concluded with lunch in the south lobby of Assembly Hall.
Read Across America is a program of the National Education Association (NEA) now in its eighth year. NEA's Read Across America Day--celebrated annually on Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2--generates enthusiasm for reading nationwide and focuses the country's attention on how important it is to motivate children to read. Reading opens the doors to achievement, and Read Across America celebrations--whether large or small--are crucial building blocks toward making the joys of reading an integral part of every child's life. More than 45 million people were expected to participate in the celebration this year.
