University of Connecticut Athletics
"Husky Reach" Launches Reading Program
10/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
Oct. 14, 2009
MANCHESTER, Conn. -- "Husky Reach", the community service program of the UConn Division of Athletics, began the second year of its reading initiative on Tuesday morning at the Verplanck Elementary School in Manchester, Conn.
This year's program is called "The Reading Millionaires Plus: A Roaring Reading Challenge". On Tuesday morning, UConn student-athletes extended a challenge to this year's Verplanck students, encouraging them to top the mark of one million minutes of reading that was accomplished last year.
If the students meet that goal, the fourth and fifth graders of Verplanck will earn a trip to see a UConn women's basketball game this season. The kindergarten through third grade classes will come to UConn for a campus tour - including a trip to the Dairy Bar, the UConn Television studios and a physics classroom.
The Verplanck students will begin logging their minutes immediately both in school and at home. This year they will also participate in a "Reading Buddy" component where they will partner with a student from another grade to accumulate minutes.
After the challenge was issued to the Verplanck students at Tuesday's kickoff event, one student from each grade participated in an obstacle course race which promoted the importance of teamwork. The winning team earned the first opportunity to read Halloween-themed books which UConn student-athletes delivered to the Verplanck Library.
A special aspect of the program begins next week in which various teams and groups of UConn student-athletes "adopt" grades and visit with one classroom each week for the next six weeks.
Husky student-athletes engage the students in discussions of important life topics such as responsibility, teamwork and time management. They will also deliver books to the classrooms in an effort to continue the incredible momentum from last year's reading program. The goal of this program is to inspire, encourage, and support a healthy interest in reading.
The "Husky Reach" program is funded by the SBM Charitable Foundation, which was established in 2000 by Connecticut Bankshares, the parent company of the former Savings Bank of Manchester. The SBM Charitable Foundation, Inc., is committed to bettering the lives of those who live and work predominately in Hartford, Windham and Tolland counties.
"We are proud to once again bring Husky Reach to the young students of Verplanck Elementary School," says UConn Director of Athletics Jeffrey Hathaway. "The `Husky Reach' program has allowed our student-athletes to interact with the children at Verplanck and promote an enthusiasm for education. We acknowledge the special efforts of Principal Mike Saimond and the many outstanding teachers at Verplanck for supporting the efforts of our student-athletes to be positive role models for the elementary school students. In addition, we remain grateful to our friends at the SBM Charitable Foundation for their partnership, which has made our entire outreach program a reality. The SBM Charitable Foundation and our student-athletes are working together to make a tangible difference in the lives of the boys and girls at Verplanck."
