2008 Readers for Life Project

 

Qwest Pioneers at Rochester,  MN
 

ROCHESTER  READERS  FOR  LIFE  EVENT 

Declaring April 11, 2008 “Readers for Life Day” at Riverside Central elementary school, Kathy Hanson of the Qwest Pioneers opened back-to-back assemblies for students and staff.

It was a special day for the school with several community leaders  visiting the school to share the event with the students.  Guests John Stanoch – Qwest MN President, Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede, Fred Daly of the Rochester School Board and Dexter General – Qwest Major Market Manager as well as the Readers for Life committee shared with the kids their favorite childhood book and why they remembered it still.

Over 625 students received a book of their own.  The Qwest Pioneers also gave 12 books to the school library with stories and folk tales in a dual language format: Hmong/English and Somali/English.

A local high school group, The Readers Theater, enacted a Somali story The Lion’s Share while the book was narrated in both Somali and English.  The student learned there is more than one way to “read” a book.

This is the first Hiawathaland Club area city to be included in the Readers for Life book give away project.  The club plans to do more literacy events.

 

 

Sorting and counting out books appropriate for each grade are Jan and Joe Swenson and daughter Mary and Kathy and Roger Hanson.

 

Janet Lozon, Hiawathaland Pioneer Club President and Harry Osborne, Chapter 18 Vice President, hang several Qwest banners around the assembly room.

 

Karen Jothen, Qwest Community Affairs Manager, and John Stanoch,Qwest MN President,  find a book they’re sure the students will like a lot.

 

Fred Daly, Rochester School Board, shares his favorite childhood story. 
Dexter General,, of Qwest Rochester, Janet Lozon, Hiawathaland Club and Mayor Ardell Brede, wait their turn.

 

Readers Theater actors and narrators: Kate Locke, Hannah VanGalder, Sophie Dunn-Walker, Ajibola Famiyida, Eric Lynn, Taylor Hurley and Abdilasan Adoco, bond after their presentation.

 

 Students were attentive during the “reading” of the Somali tale.

 

SPIRIT the Qwest mascot and VIKTOR the Minnesota Vikings mascot were surprise guests. The students eagerly greeted them at the program conclusion.  Qwest is the Official Sponsor of the Viking’s Community Tuesday service appearances in 2008.
     

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