NORFOLK, Va., March 7, 2023 – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), partnering with TownBank, Dominion Energy and Norfolk Public Schools, concluded the annual Read with MEac competition at this year’s winning school, W.H. Taylor Elementary.
This marked the first time the ceremony has been in person since the effect of COVID-19 in 2020.
The program is a citywide contest encouraging elementary school students to enjoy reading. In its 15th year, the students of W.H. Taylor, along with individual award winners, got to celebrate the milestones that they accomplished together.
The students commemorated their achievements with music, dancing, mascots, and cheerleaders representing the conference’s eight universities.
“It’s been three years, and we’re so excited that it’s in person this year; you can feel the love in the atmosphere,” Dr. Doreatha White, Norfolk Public School’s Executive Director, said. “It brings so much warmth and excitement to our boys and girls to have you here in person to acknowledge their hard work with reading, and we know that if we continue to motivate our children to read, they will be able to accomplish anything.”
This year’s individual award winners were all in the second grade. Annabella Hardener of Norview Elementary and Isabella McKenzie of Larchmont Elementary tied for the top reader this year. Henry Martins of Ghent followed behind them as the second top reader.
Ethan Trusty of Coleman Place and Seth Burleson of Lake Taylor both earned the most improved reader award.
“Just having the MEAC involved has made a huge difference,” Dr. Jennifer Banks, Assistant Principle at W.H. Taylor, said. “Our staff does an amazing job just trying to encourage students to read, and this partnership made it explode.”
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 52nd year of intercollegiate competition with the 2022-23 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.