NORFOLK, Va., March 18, 2021 – 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. The winners for 2021 were announced today.
 
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.
 
“I am elated that the MEAC is able to partner with the Norfolk Public School system on the Read with MEac reading program,” MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas said. “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, particularly given the challenges of educating our students in this pandemic. In addition, I want to thank Dr. Byrdsong for her progressive leadership, support and encouragement in getting her students to read more.”
 
The reading contest, organized by MEAC Chief of Staff / Chief Operating Officer 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 13^th year.
 
“We appreciate our continued partnership with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,” Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong, Norfolk Public Schools Superintendent, said. “We are so excited to celebrate our avid elementary and middle school readers who participated in this year's Read with MEac contest. Reading proficiency is a critical skill that our students must possess -- now more than ever. It is vital to their academic success as they continue to adapt and adjust to new ways of learning.”
 
The winners are:
 
First-Place School
Sherwood Forest Elementary, $2,000 prize
 
Second-Place School
Ghent School, $1,500 prize
 
Third-Place School
Southside STEM at Campostella, $500 prize
 
Winning Class
Teacher Monica McDonald, 7^th grade, Azalea Gardens Middle School, $1,000 prize
 
Top Male and Female Readers
Reagan Webster, 2^nd grade, Ghent School
Frankie Hoyer, 2^nd grade, Sherwood Forest Elementary
Reagan Roitsch, 3^rd grade, Larchmont Elementary
Derrick Young, 3^rd grade, Willard Model Elementary
Eleanor Wernly, 4^th grade, Larchmont Elementary
Greyson Kyzar, 4^th grade, Larchmont Elementary
Esme’ Courson, 5^th grade, Taylor Elementary
Elijah Wittkower, 5^th grade, Ghent School
Gabriella Chambers, 6^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Alden Fenton, 6^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Sophie Randall, 7^th grade, Azalea Gardens Middle
Luke Shomaker, 7^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Lillian Rippel, 8^th grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Kenneth Berger, 8^th grade, Blair Middle
 
Top Male and Female Most Improved
Jirah Scarborough, 2^nd grade, Bay View Elementary
Frankie Hoyer, 2^nd grade, Sherwood Forest Elementary
Jalaina Ramos, 3^rd grade, Ocean View Elementary
Jose Gabriel Ferrer, 3^rd grade, Lake Taylor School
Maisie Thornton, 4^th grade, Taylor Elementary
Brennan Santana, 4^th grade, Ghent School
Layla Petersen, 5^th grade, Larchmont Elementary
Gregory Williams, 5^th grade, Larrymore Elementary
Layla Berry, 6^th grade, Northside Middle
Robert Ward, 6^th grade, Blair Middle
Sophie Randall, 7^th grade, Azalea Gardens Middle
Jadon Robertsonl, 7^th grade, Southside STEM at Campostella
Johonor Robinson, 8^th grade, Azalea Gardens Middle
Robert Jordan, 8^th grade, Southside STEM at Capmostella
 
 
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) celebrates its 50^th 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.