Nine student-athletes from Illinois State University visited Parkside Elementary School to read to the students as part of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference's community outreach program, "Just Read!" The student-athletes answered questions and read books to the children Thursday morning.
The student-athletes who made the trip to Parkside Elementary School included Janiah Downing (football), Joyce Kleinheinz (soccer), Cheryl Berezan (gymnastics), Lindley McDavid (volleyball), Rafael Rice (football), Demetrus Johnson (football), Wally Cirafesi (football), Cat Graham (womens basketball) and Holly Hallstrom (womens basketball).
Kleinheinz, who has participated in the Just Read! program in the past, enjoyed reading and visiting with the children at Parkside Elementary.
The kids really made my day, Kleinheinz said. The kids seem to really enjoy us reading to them, and its fun for us to get out to the elementary schools and read to the kids. They ask so many questions, its a great experience for all of us.
Johnson, who has never been involved in Just Read! wishes that he would have volunteered earlier to participate in the program.
The kids were asking all kinds of questions about football and other things, Johnson said. Reading to the kids was a great experience and its something that I wish I would have gotten involved with before now.
The Missouri Valley Conference started the Just Read! program in November 1998. The program, which is co-sponsored by State Farm Insurance and the Missouri Valley Conference, has student-athletes visit local elementary schools, reading books and relating the impact that reading has had on their lives. The program is very successful, and video segments from each Missouri Valley Conference visit are aired during the league's basketball television package.
For more information regarding Illinois State's visit to Parkside Elementary School or future visits, contact Jane Fulton at 309/438-2750. For more information regarding State Farm's "Just Read!" program, contact Jack R. Watkins at 314/421-0339, ext. 327, or Sarah Weier at 314/421-0339, ext. 318, of the Missouri Valley Conference.
