Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LA VERKIN — It's not every day the Governor's black suburban and KSL's Chopper 5 both arrive at La Verkin Elementary.
Students there made a challenge that was hard to resist.
"They gave us a challenge, they're doing some reading down here," said Governor Gary Herbert. "They asked us, the Governor and the First Lady, to come and read with them."
Students issued video "call outs" on Facebook asking several elected leaders, entertainers, even Miss Utah to come read at their school. It was a big ask for a little rural school. But that was the point.
"We want them to realize the world is theirs. They can do more than La Verkin, Utah," said Principal Steve Leavenworth. "Not that staying here is bad. But we want them to realize they have potential beyond sometimes what we see in ourselves."
Organizers hoped this challenge would not only reinforce the importance of reading, but expose them to careers students might want to pursue in the future.
"We wanted them to know there's more than just the borders of this little city," said Title One Coordinator Amy Christiansen. "By reaching out, they can become anything they want."
And as students welcomed guests, guided them on tours and asked questions, they seemed to get that message.
"It makes me want to go to college more," said 5th grader Adrian Gubler.
La Verkin was one stop on a whirlwind tour of southern Utah.
KSL's Read Today program landed at Bloomington Hills and Santa Clara Elementaries as well. Those schools had the top participation in a popular kite festival that motivates kids throughout Washington County to read.
Sponsoring businesses presented the schools with a $50,000 check to support their literacy efforts.
With summer break just a few weeks away, teachers hope all this enthusiasm for reading will continue.
That was the parting challenge from Utah's First Lady to those students at La Verkin Elementary.
"Moving into our summer reading program, which we're doing, get them excited to turn off the TV, turn things down and do a little reading," said Jeanette Herbert.
KSL's Read Today initiative is a partner in the Governor and First Lady's summer reading challenge. To learn more, go to readtoday.com.
