This spring, the Arkansas Reads Program delivered 8,000 books to students at Mountain View Elementary School and held a schoolwide celebration of reading and education. A community outreach initiative sponsored by the U of A's Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, Arkansas Reads aims to promote literacy and a lifelong love of reading among Arkansas youth.

Chancellor Charles Robinson led the day's events, reading to the school during an assembly and talking with students in the classroom.

"Speaking to elementary students can be a humbling experience," Robinson said. "They get right to the heart of the matter in their questions and their comments. It's also a very encouraging experience. The children we met on the trip to Mountain View were filled with excitement and an eagerness to learn. We want to partner with schools across Arkansas to help students maintain this eagerness throughout their educational journey and to help provide them a pathway to additional learning in college when they are ready."

The Arkansas Reads team held readings for Kindergarten-second grade and organized a STEM activity with third and fourth grade students, who designed and raced wind-powered vehicles.

"Mountain View Elementary was honored that our school was chosen for the Arkansas Reads Program," said Mountain View Elementary Principal Kay Shipman. "The recent visit from Chancellor Charles Robinson and the U of A team was a moment of inspiration for us. This experience not only enriched our school but also reminded us how powerful community partnerships can be in shaping bright little futures."

Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment and dean of admissions and nationally competitive awards, read to the school's first and second graders, while Emily Voight, senior associate director for the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, read to kindergarteners.

"Elementary students are already beginning to form ideas about their futures and whether or not that will include going to college," McCray said. "Our goal with Arkansas Reads is to reinforce an idea their teachers are working hard to teach them — that reading is fun, that learning should be a lifelong experience and that the more they learn, the more they will achieve in school and eventually in their careers."

Arkansas Reads is made possible by several partners. Donations to the event were provided by the Panhellenic Council and coordinated by Logan Parette, Panhellenic vice president of scholarship and educational programming, and Carissa Kelly, associate director of Greek Life. The Arkansas Reads program is also supported by a grant from the Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network, which provided funds for books and supplies. Other partners include the Center for Arkansas and Regional Studies, the Honors College, the College of Engineering and the Department of English.

The Arkansas Reads Program continues to expand outreach and has donated over 60,000 books to Arkansas schools since its inception. Departments or programs interested in joining the Arkansas Reads Program in collecting books and elementary schools wishing to participate in the program should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards by phone at 479-575-4883 or by email at awards@uark.edu.