Kids achieve excellence through reading

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Vernon L. Fowler Jr.
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Airmen from 6th Air Mobility Wing  attended the third annual Hillsborough County Public Schools "Read on myON" Winter Reading Challenge awards breakfast to help represent local hometown heroes Jan.27, 2014.

Seventeen children throughout Hillsborough County, from preschool to fifth grade, were selected as winners of the 2014 Be a Hero-Read United winter reading program after each finding a book about a hero that relates to their lives and writing a personal story about it.

To acknowledge them, a breakfast was held at the Hillsborough County Public Schools ISC building, where their parents could also attend to witness their child's recognition.

"We want kids to continue reading," said Doris Linville, Read on myON project manager. "We have these events to continue motivating them."

For their accomplishments each child was rewarded with brunch with the local hometown heroes, being recognized as a hometown myON "poster child", a certificate of community pride, and being a special guest at the 2014 Summer Reading Summit where they will also have an opportunity to sign autographs.

Following the certificate presentation and group photographs, the children and their parents were given the opportunity to mingle with and have their books signed by the hometown heroes.

"It's inspiring to see younger members of the community achieving their goals," said Airman 1st Class Carly Thompson, public affairs broadcaster. "They are a group of bright young individuals."