Seven western Kansas students are among the top readers of the Read Kansas Read summer reading program and their families who joined Governor Sam Brownback and First Lady Mary Brownback for a lunch reception at Cedar Crest Saturday.
The statewide summer reading program is a collaborative effort by the Governor’s Office, Kansas Book Festival, Kansas State Library and the Kansas State Department of Education to challenge Kansas children to read while they are not in school. Students across Kansas spent the summer recording the time they spent reading on their reading logs, and top readers were chosen from each age group in the seven library regions.
“These students put in a lot of time reading over the summer, and I am proud of their achievements,” Governor Brownback said. “Read Kansas Read is a great program that encourages students of all ages to read even when classes are not in session, and I’d like to thank all of the parents, teachers, and librarians who encouraged their students to participate.”
The Read Kansas Read top readers for Grades 1-12 are:
Slade Cauley, Great Bend
Megan Roy, Palco
Vasumathi Raghavan, Manhattan
Courtney M. Elbert, Americus
Jessica Van Orden, Americus
Chiara Crisanti, Delia
Faith Kitzman, Troy
Kimberly Lister, Lyndon
Josiah “Draven” Sayre, Atwood
Janaeha Dinkel, Sharon Springs
Gracie Poirier, Derby
Lauren Regier, Newton
Shea DeBoard, Goddard
Brooklyn Monk, Neodesha
Alyssa Allison, Elsmore
Jordan Thompson, Elsmore
Jayson Resendiz, Garden City
Read To Me Winners
Ashley Schrag, Moundridge
Jared Foote, Wetmore
Elly Evert, Goodland
Noah Kopper, Newton
Riley Olson, Humboldt
Kaylynn Olson, Humboldt
Kynleigh Hickey, Scott City
First Lady Mary Brownback and State Librarian Jo Budler joined Governor Brownback for the celebration. The First Lady presented representatives from Clearwater Public Library with the $500 Kansas Book Festival grant. The Clearwater Public Library was selected from the dozens of libraries that participated in the Read Kansas Read program.
“I am pleased to congratulate Clearwater Public Library on receiving this year’s Kansas Book Festival library grant,” said the First Lady. “Library participation is critical to the success of our state’s reading initiatives, and I would like to thank them for their support.”