On Wednesday, October 1, Illinois State student-athletes will again be taking part in the Missouri Valley Conferences community outreach program, Just Read! This will be the second time in a week that student-athletes from ISU will be participating in such an event.
This time student-athletes will be reading to children at Glenn Elementary School (306 Glenn Ave.) in Normal at 10:00 a.m.
Both State Farm and the Missouri Valley Conference will have film crews on hand to take footage of the community service event. The MVC will use its footage for a commercial to be aired at halftime of the televised mens basketball games this season. State Farm plans to use their footage for a clip to be shown at the 2003 State Farm Student-Athlete Academic Banquet on October 26 in Redbird Arena.
The Missouri Valley Conference started the Just Read! program in 1998 and is co-sponsored by State Farm Insurance. The program consists of student-athletes of the Missouri Valley Conference visiting local elementary schools to read books and share with the children the importance that reading played in their lives.
Illinois State and other MVC schools continue that tradition 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.
Assistant athletics director of academics and life skills Jane Fulton has been extremely pleased with the success of the program.
Weve received great feedback from the teachers and principals of the schools weve visited, Fulton said. The students also appreciate the time that our student-athletes have given.
For more information regarding Illinois States visit to Glenn Elementary School, contact Fulton at 309/438-2750. For information regarding the Just Read! program, contact Jack R. Watkins of the Missouri Valley Conference staff at 314/421-0339, ext. 327.
