Indiana University Athletics
Avid Readers Take The Field With IU Baseball
4/11/2016 4:04:00 PM | Baseball, Student-Athlete Services
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Local elementary school children had the opportunity to take Bart Kaufman Field with Indiana baseball players before a pair of games this weekend after participating in the second annual Grand Slam For Literacy.
Nearly 300 participants in grades K-6 across five local schools accounted for 296,368 minutes read as part of the campaign that promotes reading at an early age. Students who participated, like fifth-grader Nolan Coy of Marlin Elementary School were celebrated during IU's series with Purdue.
"It was really fun, really fun," said Coy, who accounted for 2,780 minutes. He said he read "mostly anything" and was excited to take the field with the Hoosiers' after playing baseball last year.
"Being with them was really, really cool."
Coy and the other children who participated in the weekend's festivities were able to throw out the first pitch, run out onto the field with the team and get autographs from the players. The event was helped organized by IU's athletic department and the Inspire Living Learning Center from IU's School of Education.
"It's awesome for us, and I think they really had a blast," IU junior pitcher Luke Stephenson said. He and a few of his teammates were already familiar with a few of the participants after visiting with the schools to read books with classes earlier in the year.
"Going there and seeing how much they're happy you're there is a great feeling," he said. "It feels really good to know you're making an impact in the community."
The Grand Slam For Literacy built off of last year's event and this year's Slam Dunk For Literacy, which followed a similar concept but involved Indiana basketball.
Based on the turnout and the involvement across the schools, Neely Slawson, IU's Assistant Director of Service Learning and Community Engagement said she was happy with the program's growth and success.
"It's one of my favorite things we do all year," Slawson said. "They're all so excited, and I'm excited it made them a little more excited about reading."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Local elementary school children had the opportunity to take Bart Kaufman Field with Indiana baseball players before a pair of games this weekend after participating in the second annual Grand Slam For Literacy.
Nearly 300 participants in grades K-6 across five local schools accounted for 296,368 minutes read as part of the campaign that promotes reading at an early age. Students who participated, like fifth-grader Nolan Coy of Marlin Elementary School were celebrated during IU's series with Purdue.
"It was really fun, really fun," said Coy, who accounted for 2,780 minutes. He said he read "mostly anything" and was excited to take the field with the Hoosiers' after playing baseball last year.
"Being with them was really, really cool."
Coy and the other children who participated in the weekend's festivities were able to throw out the first pitch, run out onto the field with the team and get autographs from the players. The event was helped organized by IU's athletic department and the Inspire Living Learning Center from IU's School of Education.
"It's awesome for us, and I think they really had a blast," IU junior pitcher Luke Stephenson said. He and a few of his teammates were already familiar with a few of the participants after visiting with the schools to read books with classes earlier in the year.
"Going there and seeing how much they're happy you're there is a great feeling," he said. "It feels really good to know you're making an impact in the community."
The Grand Slam For Literacy built off of last year's event and this year's Slam Dunk For Literacy, which followed a similar concept but involved Indiana basketball.
Based on the turnout and the involvement across the schools, Neely Slawson, IU's Assistant Director of Service Learning and Community Engagement said she was happy with the program's growth and success.
"It's one of my favorite things we do all year," Slawson said. "They're all so excited, and I'm excited it made them a little more excited about reading."
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