Friday, February 15, 2002

A number of East Tennessee State student-athletes took some time away from their schedules and traveled to Woodland Elementary School for the Bucs Love Books service project. It was launched on Feb. 14th as a part of Woodland's Reading is Fundamental Day. RIF Day takes place each year to provide a book to each student grades K-5 that they can keep and take home. The program encourages students to read more often and promotes parental involvement in reading daily with their child. ETSU Student-Athletes and support staff joined four kindergarten classes at Woodland Elementary to be the first adults to read the new books with the students. Students from Mrs. McPeak, Mrs. Brady, Mrs. Emmert, and Mrs. O'Quinn's classes paired up with an ETSU student-athlete and they read books, sang songs, and even enjoyed a few minutes on the playground. At the end of each reading session, the children were given bookmarks with the new reading slogan and two complimentary tickets to the final home men's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 16th. Student-athletes attending were: Rachel Shifflet (Volleyball), Kristen Redfern (Soccer), Jacobe Jones (Football), Travis Williams (Football), Jeff Pierce (Football), Joi Anderson (Women's Basketball), Zakee Wadood (Men's Basketball), Bart McFaddon and Kim Reece (Academic Services and Life Skills Program Office). Plans are in the works to do another Reading Day with Woodland Elementary in April which will highlight the Spring Sports teams.