B-State Student-Athletes Assist Read Aloud WV “Snuggle & Read” Program
It’s a special moment, some would say “magical,” when an adult reads aloud to a young boy or girl. Recently, more than a dozen Bluefield State University student-athletes helped the “magic” happen by assisting in the Read Aloud WV of Mercer County’s “Snuggle & Read” program. Young children (ages 2 to 5) and their families from Mercer County attended the program at the Mercer County Technical Education Center.
Members of the Bluefield State’s women’s softball, and men’s football and baseball teams, helped Read Aloud WV members set up for the event and assist children as they visited Snuggle & Read literacy activity stations. BSU’s official mascot, a Great Dane affectionately referred to as “Big Blue,” traveled from Charleston to greet children and their families. Dr. Amanda Banks, BSU Associate Professor of Education, and Dr. David McMillan, BSU’s Director of Library Services, coordinated B-State’s involvement in the program.
“This was an excellent opportunity for our student-athletes to engage in community service and interact with the youngsters and their families,” Dr. Banks noted. “The turnout exceeded our expectations. Several of the student-athletes present are preservice teachers in BSU’s Elementary Education Program and were instrumental in helping Snuggle & Read run smoothly.”
Amy Marson, wife of Bluefield, WV City Manager Cecil Marson, and Kelvin Heyward (BSU football player) read to the entire group of students and their families. Each student received a child’s book, a plush animal “book buddy,” a “Snuggle & Read” blanket, and a certificate of promise to read to their book buddy.
