ABOVE: File photo from the 2019 Read With MEac celebration at Larchmont Elementary School.


NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 25, 2020—The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the City of Norfolk and Norfolk Public Schools have once again teamed up to host the Read with MEac elementary and middle school reading contest sponsored by TowneBank.
 
Read with MEac is a citywide reading contest that encourages students in Norfolk Public Schools to read as much as possible. Participants’ reading progress was monitored through the Renaissance Star Reading program from September through earlier this month.
 
“We are so appreciative of our partnership with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,” Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong, Norfolk Public Schools Superintendent, said. “The Read with MEac elementary and middle school reading contest has now concluded, and we are so pleased to be able to celebrate those students who have immersed themselves in reading and the wonderful world of books. We are excited about the gains our students are making in the area of literacy; not only because it improves their academic achievement, but also because reading opens the doors to life-long adventure and the joy of acquiring new knowledge.”
 
The reading contest, organized by MEAC Senior Associate Commissioner and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) Sonja O. Stills and MEAC Director of Corporate Partnerships Patricia Easley Sivells, along with the member institutions’ senior woman administrators, is aimed at encouraging education and promoting the love of reading to students. The program is in its 12^th year.
 
“I am elated that the MEAC is able to partner with the Norfolk Public School system on the Read with MEac reading program,” said MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas. “Since my tenure as Commissioner, this is a program that best exemplifies the MEAC’s commitment to academic achievement within the Norfolk community. Once again, I commend the students, teachers, principals and parents on their accomplishment. In addition, I want to thank Dr. Byrdsong for her progressive leadership, support and encouragement in getting her students to read more.”
 
The MEAC will recognize the winning school and top student reader in a celebration on Tuesday, March 10 at the school.
 
The winners, announced today, are:
 
First-Place School
Tarrallton Elementary, $2,000 prize
 
Second-Place School
Mary Calcott Elementary, $1,500 prize
 
Third-Place School
Larchmont Elementary, $500 prize
 
Winning Class
Teacher Ms. Privott, 8^th grade, Norview Middle School, $1,000 prize
 
Top Male and Female Readers
Sylvia Bowers, 2^nd Grade, Ghent School
Gideon Jones, 2^nd grade, Granby Elementary
Eleanor Wernly, 3^rd grade, Larchmont Elementary
Alpha Sall, 3^rd grade, Calcott Elementary
Hedy Santo Kilgore, 4^th grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Elijah Wittkower, 4^th grade, Ghent School
Anora Cowell, 5^th grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Donovan Duman, 5^th grade Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Sanah Taylor, 6^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Jyden Ringo, 6^th grade, Norview Middle
Isabella Stone, 7^th grade, Ghent School
Luther Nagal, Norview Middle
Keziah Shack, 8^th grade, Northside Middle
Abigail Shomaker, 8^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Marc Greco, 8^th grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
 
Top Male and Female Most Improved
Daniella Botchway, 2^nd grade, Lindenwood Elementary
Isaiah Quigley, 2^nd grade, Willard Model Elementary
Jazmine Jade Thornburgh, 3^rd grade, Coleman Place Elementary
Creston Gunderson, 3^rd grade, Larchmont Elementary
Brielle Reynolds, 4^th grade, Larrymore Elementary
Henry Dimirsky, 4^th grade, Taylor Elementary
Sophia Cummings, 5^th grade, Sherwood Forest Elementary
Delaney Jones, 5^th grade, Academy for Discover at Lakewood
Bella Burrus, 6^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Aidan Mulhern, 6^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Olivia Lawrence, 7^th grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Kenneth Berger, 7^th grade, Blair Middle
Delacroix Cooper, 8^th grade, Blair Middle
Spencer Nye, 8^th grade, Blair Middle
 
For more information on the 2020 MEAC Basketball Tournament, including brackets, ancillary events, tickets and travel information, visit www.MEAChoops.com.
 
 
 
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) begins its 49th year of intercollegiate competition heading into the 2019-20 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.