ABOVE: File photo from celebration of the 2020 Read With MEac celebration
NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 19, 2020 – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has once again partnered with the City of Norfolk, TowneBank and Norfolk Public Schools for the annual Read with MEac community reading program.
The Read with MEac program, now in its 13th year, was created by the MEAC’s Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) to promote the love of reading. In Norfolk, Read with MEac encourages Norfolk Public School elementary and middle school students to read and participate in activities through the Renaissance Star Reading online program.
“I am proud that the MEAC is again able to partner with the Norfolk Public School system, the City of Norfolk and TowneBank on the Read with MEac reading program,” MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas said. “Read With MEac is a program that best exemplifies the MEAC’s commitment to academic achievement. Once again, thanks to Dr. [Sharon L.] Byrdsong for her progressive leadership, support and encouragement in getting her students to read more.”
This year’s program will once again focus on elementary and middle school students from participating Norfolk Public Schools. Participants’ reading progress will be assessed based on the greatest scaled score gains on the Renaissance Star Reading online system from Nov. 23 to Feb. 19, 2021 to determine the winners.
Winners will be announced in a press release from the MEAC office in late February.
“Advancing and promoting literacy is an important objective for Norfolk Public Schools, which makes our partnership with the MEAC invaluable,” Dr. Byrdsong, Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools, said. “Not only do our students have the magnificent opportunity to participate in an exciting and engaging reading contest, but they also experience praise and celebration within a collegiate setting, which positively exposes them to the importance of continuing their education beyond NPS. We look forward to participating in the Read with MEac program for many more years to come.”
The schools from the selected Norfolk Public Schools with the greatest scaled score gains could win the following prizes: $2,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $500 for third place. The class with the greatest scaled score gains will win $1,000.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) celebrates its 50th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2020-21 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of 11 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.