Illinois State athletes were given the opportunity Wednesday to give back to the Bloomington-Normal community by taking part in the Missouri Valley Conferences outreach program Just Read!
Wednesdays visit to Glenn Elementary School in Normal was the largest Just Read! event in Illinois State history with 29 student-athletes in attendance.
Reggie Redbird also made the trip.
The event was kicked off with introduction of the athletes. The student-athletes then read to about 300 students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade, and took questions from the kids afterwards. ISU athletes also talked about the importance of learning to read.
Illinois State volleyball player and Bloomington native Laura Doornbos took part in the event along with teammate Emily Kabbes, a Normal native. Both enjoyed doing community service on behalf of Illinois State while giving back to their own community.
The students are so respectful and they enjoy listening to us read to them, Doornbos said. When me and Emily (Kabbes) were in grade school the ISU students used to come and participate in our stuff, so it was really special.
The Missouri Valley Conference started the Just Read! program in 1998 and is co-sponsored by State Farm Insurance.
Illinois State and other MVC schools continue the tradition of the program in 2003-04 by scheduling Just Read! visits to elementary schools once a month during the months of October, November, January, February, March and the first three weeks of April.
