Women's Basketball | 2/11/2026 11:40:48 AM

Each academic year, as classrooms across Norfolk come to life, a familiar and meaningful challenge begins. It reaches far beyond textbooks and lesson plans. It marks the start of another Read with MEac journey.

Now in its 17th year, this citywide reading initiative has grown into one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) most cherished community partnerships. It blends literacy, academic inspiration, and community pride into a friendly competition that connects children, families, educators, and college student-athletes.

The Read with MEac program was established more than seventeen years ago by the conference’s Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) to promote a love for reading among elementary and middle school students. Originating in Winston Salem, North Carolina, the program partnered with the basketball tournament host city to bring literacy into the spotlight as an essential building block of lifelong academic success.

Over the years, the program has traveled to a new city, built new community relationships, and worked closely with school systems to fuel enthusiasm for reading while reinforcing that literacy is foundational to academic and future success.

Since the tournament found a home in Norfolk, the partnership has flourished and earned consistent praise for its impact. Through collaboration with community organizations such as TowneBank and Dominion Energy, students in Norfolk Public Schools engage with MEAC student athletes, staff, mascots, and cheerleaders in ways that make reading exciting and relatable.

Each year, the MEAC donates five thousand dollars to winning schools to help create memorable learning experiences and celebrate the joy of literacy. For school leaders and classroom teachers, Read with MEac brings a season of motivation. Young readers dive into books, build confidence, and strengthen critical thinking skills that support every area of learning. The friendly competition helps grow a culture of reading and rewards students for dedication, growth, and curiosity.

During basketball tournament week, the excitement builds to celebrations that honor schools, teachers, and student readers who have excelled. Awards for top schools and classes, often including monetary support for educational resources, recognize the hard work taking place in classrooms. In 2025, winners were celebrated at the Academy of International Studies at Rosemont, where students enjoyed a reading pep rally featuring cheerleaders and mascots from MEAC member institutions.

The impact of Read with MEac extends well beyond the basketball tournament last year. MEAC track and field student athletes visited local schools, participated in reading events, and shared personal stories about balancing academics and athletics. These moments inspire young readers by showing that success in school, in sports, and in life are connected and within reach. The experience also leaves a lasting impression on the student athletes, strengthening their commitment to service and community.

Commissioner Sonja Stills, who has been involved with the program since its early days, reflected on its continued growth and purpose.

“From the beginning, Read with MEac has been about more than reading,” Stills said. “It is about showing young people that their education matters, that their community supports them, and that they have a bright future ahead. Watching this program grow and seeing the smiles on students’ faces each year is one of the most rewarding parts of our work.”

Looking Ahead: A Legacy Continues

As the program moves forward, the continued collaboration with the City of Norfolk and Norfolk Public Schools remains central to its success. Their shared commitment to literacy reflects a broader vision of community investment, one where young minds are nurtured, celebrated, and connected to opportunities that encourage them to dream big. Read with MEac is not just a reading contest. It is a testament to what can happen when schools, civic leaders, and higher education institutions work together to champion learning.
For more information on the MEAC Read with MEac program or 2026 Basketball Tournament, visit MEAChoops.com.