NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 28, 2024 – 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 16th year, and I appreciate the city of Norfolk, Norfolk Public Schools, TowneBank and Dominion Energy for their support. A huge Thank you to Dr. Sharon Byrdsong, Norfolk Public Schools Superintendent, for her commitment to this program, and congratulations to all our winners this year. Our future begins with the young minds of our local education systems, and we are proud to help support the growth of the next generation.”
The reading contest, organized by MEAC Associate Commissioner’s Patricia Porter-Mayfield and Neema Connor along with MEAC member institutions’ Senior Woman Administrators, is aimed at encouraging education and promoting a love of reading.
The program is in its 16th year.
“Norfolk Public Schools’ students are always excited about reading, and we love adding to that enthusiasm by participating in the Read with MEac contest,” Dr. Byrdsong said. “This partnership with the MEAC showcases both the fun and the fundamentals. And we are so thrilled that our winning school will enjoy an in-person celebration with the MEAC for the first time since the pandemic. It is a tradition we have certainly missed.”
The 2024 winning school, class and top readers will be recognized in a celebration at Camp Allen Elementary at 9 AM on Tuesday, March 12.
The winners are:
First-Place School - Camp Allen Elementary ($2,000)
Second-Place School - Taylor Elementary ($1,500)
Third-Place School - Larchmont Elementary ($500)
Winning Class - Teacher Karen Patterson, 3rd grade, Little Creek Elementary ($1,000)
Top Readers - Name, Grade, School
Avicenna White, 2nd grade, Larchmont Elementary School
Kenrah Mieko Marcaraig, 2nd grade, Little Creek Elementary School
Isabella McKenzie, 3rd grade, Larchmont Elementary School School
Hannah Needell, 3rd grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Mohiyuddin Bashir, 4th grade, Taylor Elementary School
Zachary Ross, 4th grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Delilah Emerson-Coyle, 5th grade, Taylor Elementary School
Henry Lieb, 5th grade, Taylor Elementary School
Gideon Jones, 6th grade, Blair Middle School
Isabella Clark, 6th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Eleanor Wernly, 7th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Liam Brennan, 7th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont *
Alpha Sall, 7th grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood *
Andrew Lee, 8th grade, Academy for Discovery at Lakewood
Esme' Courson, 8th grade, Academy of International Studies at Rosemont
Most Improved
Loyal Jones, 2nd grade, Southside STEM Academy
McKenna Campbell, 2nd grade, Larrymore Elementary
Christopher Jenkins, 3rd grade, Tanners Creek Elementary
Lilly Linne, 3rd grade, Granby Elementary School
Victoria Houston, 4th grade, Sewells Point Elementary
William Smith, 4th grade, Chesterfield Academy Elementary School
Davontae Heyward, 5th grade, CrossRoads Elementary School
Audrey Wright, 5th grade, Bay View Elementary
Montrell Williams, 6th grade, Northside Middle School
Donovan Hill, 6th grade, Blair Middle School
Raymontae Jones, 7th grade, Southside STEM Academy
Dia'Niahya Wilson, 7th grade, Ruffner Middle School
Adrian Hawkins, 7th grade, Lake Taylor Middle School
Isaiah Caban, 8th grade, Lake Taylor Middle School
Devyn Swoger, 8th grade, Northside Middle School
*denotes tie