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Softball Team Participates in National Young Reader's Day
11/19/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 9, 2004
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball squad took a study breaak on Tuesday, Nov. 9, to participate in National Young Reader's Day. The team read to classes at Town and Country School.
National Young Reader's Day, which annually falls on the second Tuesday in November, was founded in 1989 by Pizza Hut ®, BOOK IT ®, National Reading Incentive Program, and the Library of Congress.
Schools across the country celebrated National Young Reader's Day in a fun and meaningful way by bringing local celebrities in to read to classrooms. Celebrity readers not only entertained students with a story from a book, but also a story about the importance of reading in the "real world."
Town and Country is a fully accredited, non-public, full day K-12 program specifically designed to meet the needs of students with learning differences and/or attentional disorders. The softball team visited with the students, introducing themselves and explaining the importance of reading in their everyday lives.
"Our student-athletes take pride in their academic accomplishments, as well as their athletic performances," said first-year heac coach Christy Connoyer. "Giving back to the community by reading to kids is one way to show how important academics are in their lives. Our student-athletes are role models, and they are able to use their athletic status to inspire young readers."
The Hurricane read to the classes in pairs then answered questions and spent time with the younger students. The students and teachers at Town and Country were as excited to see and hear from the Tulsa Softball team, as the softball players themselves were excited about and enjoyed an afternoon of giving back to the community.
 Senior Stacey Walkingstick shows the class a picture from the book she is reading as part of National Young Reader's Day.  |
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"When I was younger I remember looking up to older kids as role models, especially athletes," said senior shortstop Stacey Walkingstick. "Now, as a current student-athlete, I have the opportunity to be a role model, and give back to the kids in the community what was given to me."
"It was fun to interact with the kids and really see how much they do look up to us as role models," said junior catcher LeeAnne Pepper. They wanted to know about our lives and we were able to help educate them about the importance of time management and organization in our day to day college life."
