Ball State University Athletics
Ball State Athletics Reading Program to Debut This Fall
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State Athletics, in partnership with the Ball State Office of Community Engagement and the Muncie P3 Academic Enrichment Program, will pilot a fun and educational reading program this fall – Charlie’s Reading Challenge! The mission of the reading initiative is to provide a turnkey rubric for schools to increase reading acumen, introduce young readers to Ball State University and the athletics program and further institutional relations with the community.
“Ball State student-athletes and coaches have been great ambassadors to schools in and around Muncie for many years,” noted Ball State Director of Athletics, Mark Sandy. “Charlie’s Reading Challenge provides a defined program that is at the heart of education…Reading… and all the doors it can open for young people. We are happy to provide an avenue for learning, community engagement, and access to campus.”
Based out of Muncie’s Whitely Community, the program will require participating students to read four books in a specified timeframe, discuss and understand those books, and then be rewarded with classroom visits by student-athletes, coaches, Charlie Cardinal and complimentary home competition tickets. The featured reading collection is courtesy of the Coretta Scott King Book Donation Grant program, which is supporting the P3 program this year.
"The Muncie P3 program is excited to partner with Ball State Athletics and the Office of Community Engagement, in this special way,” said program coordinator Wilisha Scaife. “This endeavor fits the mission of the MP3 program and hope for our kids and families. It gives the opportunity for kids to be encouraged to read more, by local heroes such as Ball State student-athletes and Charlie Cardinal, while providing opportunities for Muncie families and the Ball State community to come together to celebrate the reading success of kids. The message to the children is clear, YOUR WHOLE COMMUNITY IS ROOTING FOR YOU AND YOUR SUCCESS!"
The program will officially begin on September 2nd with a reading party. Each participating classroom or program will receive an official program poster, which will provide motivation for and track the success of the students.
For schools and programs interested in participating in Charlie’s Reading Challenge moving forward, please contact the Ball State Athletics marketing and fan engagement office at 765-285-3242.
About the Muncie P3 Program: http://cms.bsu.edu/features/global/immersivelearning/teachingcontext
About the book collection: http://www.ala.org/emiert/cskbookawards/bookgrant