Charlie’s Reading Challenge Makes Several More Stops in Town and Cyberspace

Photo by: Kyle Crawford

Charlie’s Reading Challenge Makes Several More Stops in Town and Cyberspace

February 23, 2017 | General

MUNCIE, Ind. – Momentum for Charlie's Reading Challenge has continued to increase with recent stops at Sutton Elementary in Muncie, the Boys and Girls Club of Muncie and Cowan Elementary.

Football players and women's volleyball players joined Charlie Cardinal at the three most recent stops. David Keeling and Jaylin Thomas from football visited Sutton while volleyball's Kate Avila, Anna Jensen, Jessica Lindsey and Amber Seaman talked to kids at the Boys and Girls Club, along with Morgan Hagee and Brandon Martin from football. Cody Rudy and T.J. Beltavski appeared at Cowan.

Also joining the group at Cowan were field hockey head coach Christy Longacre and assistant Kelsey Smither.

"When you talk to most of the groups, a majority of them, probably nine out of 10 would say they enjoy reading which is good to see," Longacre said.

"Charlie's Reading Challenge has been an awesome opportunity and initiative this year," Cowan Elementary principal Tim Brown said. "I think anything you can do to help kids to promote reading is a real positive. With a promotion like this, the opportunity to connect to Ball State was a real positive and really an encouragement to those [reluctant readers]."

A unique interaction with program participant West Noble Elementary in Ligonier, Indiana took place last week via Skype. Nearly two hours away, both the elementary school and athletic department decided a virtual assembly would be most efficient.

Volleyball players Bailey Baumer, Emily Holland, Carly Cappello, Lauren Schreiner along with football players Drew Plitt and Fred Schroeder joined Charlie for the entertaining Skype session.

Take a look at the photo gallery and video coverage (see top of page) of recent school visits.

Students enrolled in Charlie's Reading Challenge are tasked with reading four books in one month and are rewarded with complimentary tickets to a Ball State men's or women's basketball game.