NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 28, 2022 – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the City of Norfolk and Norfolk Public Schools have once again teamed up for the Read With MEac elementary and middle school reading contest, sponsored by TowneBank and Dominion Energy. The winners were announced today.
 
Read With MEac is a citywide reading contest that encourages Norfolk Public Schools students to read as much as possible. Participants’ reading progress was monitored through the Renaissance Star Reading program from September through earlier this month.
 
“Read With MEac is one of the most important initiatives we have as a conference,” MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills said. “I’m proud to see this program thriving in its 14^th year, and I appreciate the city of Norfolk, Norfolk Public Schools, TowneBank and Dominion Energy for their support. Thank you to [Norfolk Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sharon] Byrdsong for her commitment to this program, and congratulations to all our winners this year.”
 
The reading contest, organized by MEAC Director of Corporate Partnerships Patricia Easley Sivells along with MEAC member institutions’ Senior Woman Administrators, is aimed at encouraging education and promoting a love of reading.
 
The program is in its 14^th year.
 
“We are so appreciative of our partnership with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,” Dr. Byrdsong said. “The Read with MEAC contest for our elementary and middle school students provides a fun way for these young readers to dive into reading. We continue to support this exceptional event because it promotes academic achievement, and our students love participating in it for the pure joy of reading as an adventure.”
 
The winners are:
 
First-Place School
Academy of Discovery at Lakewood ($2,000)
 
Second-Place School
Larchmont Elementary ($1,500)
 
Third-Place School
James Monroe Elementary ($500)
 
Winning Class
Teacher Tyrone Weems, 5^th grade, Lindenwood ($1,000)
 
Top Readers
Willow Machleit, 2^nd grade, Virtual Scholars Academy
August Higgins, 2^nd grade, Ghent School
Mia Koenig, 3^rd grade, Taylor Elementary
Benjamin Daugherty, 3^rd grade, Academy of Discovery at Lakewood
Sylvia Bowers, 4^th grade, Ghent School
Gideon Jones, 4^th grade, Granby Elementary
Eleanor Wernly, 5^th grade, Larchmont Elementary
Patrick Coffman, 5^th grade, Mary Colcott Elementary
Esme’ Courson, 6^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Elijah Wittkower, 6^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Christiana Staten, 7^th grade, Blair Middle*
Cassandra Hood, 7^th grade, Blair Middle*
Janet Montgomery, 7^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont*
Cole McElvain, 7^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Sarah Taylor, 8^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Ammar Malik, 8^th grade, Blair Middle*
Arthur Chivers, 8^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont*
 
Most Improved
Mydisun McGoogin, 2^nd grade, Virtual Scholars Academy
Joseph Manning, 2^nd grade, Tarallton Elementary
Lillian Manning, 3^rd grade, Ocean View Elementary
Shammond Williams, 3^rd grade, Academy of Discovery at Lakewood
Daniella Botchway, 4^th grade, Academy of Discovery at Lakewood
Grayson Brigham, 4^th grade, Granby Elementary
Jazmine Jade Thornurgh, 5^th grade, Coleman Place Elementary
Jahkia Williams, 5^th grade, Granby Elementary
Danielle Johnson, 6^th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Stanley Schell, 6^th grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Jada Totten, 7^th grade, Southside STEM Academy at Campostella
Jias Speede, 7^th grade, Azalea Gardens Middle
Dayani Moss, 8^th grade, Northside Middle
Brody Bloodworthy, 8^th grade, Azalea Gardens Middle


*denotes tie

 
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 51^st year of intercollegiate competition with the 2021-22 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.