The South Carolina Department of Education has announced the winners of the 2018 Read Your Way to the Big Game Contest - a reading competition that promotes literacy in schools through the Gamecock and Tiger athletic programs.
The start of college football season marked the beginning of the annual Read Your Way to the Big Game Contest. All pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students who read six books qualified to win four tickets and sideline passes to the South Carolina vs. Clemson game in Death Valley on November 24th. Two students winners, one reading for Clemson and one for South Carolina, were selected at random from over 50,000 entries. University mascots, Cocky and Tiger, joined education officials at school assemblies to surprise the two lucky student winners with news of their selection.
Davonte Frasier, a fifth grade student at Mitchell Math and Science Elementary School in the Charleston County School District, was named the University of South Carolina Read Your Way to the Big Game Contest Winner!
Kayla Kiser, a sixth grade student at Ten Oaks Middle School in the Horry County School District, was named the Clemson University Read Your Way to the Big Game Contest Winner!
Devonte and Kayla will join State Superintendent Molly Spearman on the field prior to Saturday's game for a special presentation. Both students also received signed letters from Clemson's Coach Dabo Swinney and South Carolina's Coach Will Muschamp.
In addition to the students - teachers, media specialists, and schools who participated were eligible for monetary prizes ranging from $500 to $2000 .
Schools with at least 70% student participation were entered to win $2,000 school library grants.
This year's school winners each had nearly 100% student participation.Chesterfield-Ruby Middle School in the Chesterfield County School District and Hendersonville Elementary School in the Colleton County School District were selected as $2000 school library grant award winners!
The Read Your Way to the Big Game Video Contest awards $500 to one teacher and/or media specialist who has the best video promoting the Read Your Way to the Big Game Contest.
The winner of the 2018 Read Your Way to the Big Game Video Contest is Melissa Mills, Media Specialist at H.E. Bonner Elementary School in the Berkeley County School District!
Watch Melissa's video by following this link.
The Read Your Way to the Big Game Decoration Contest awards $500 to one teacher and/or media specialist who has the best decorated bulletin board, wall or door, using the contest as a theme.
The winner of the 2018 Read Your Way to the Big Game Decoration Contest is Tonya Smarr, Math Interventionist & Title I Parent Liaison at Great Falls Elementary School in the Chester County School District!
Five participating teachers are being randomly selected to win $500 for their classroom. The five winning teachers are Betsy Abee, Buffalo Elementary School in the Union County School District; Mandy Grigsby, Gilbert Primary School in Lexington School District One; Katie Jones, Monaview Elementary School in the Greenville County School District; Donna Helms, Orangeburg Preparatory Schools; and Monique Williams, Legacy Early College in South Carolina Public Charter School District.
A child's ability to read is a critical predictor of educational and lifelong success. The South Carolina Department of Education encourages students to continue to read both in and outside the classroom. Parents can visit SCReads.org for strategies on helping their child become a stronger reader.
