McKinley high school students representing Language Club, SADD, Band, Cross Country, Basketball, Cheerleading, Football and Volleyball served as the “reader leaders” overseeing stations for students in preschool through 12th grade, who wore VIP badges.

The event kicked off with the VIP students running through a tunnel surrounded by cheerleaders, Troy the Trojan Mascot, and the marching band, cheering them on as they tore the banner, “Let’s tackle reading!”

Stations included reading, face-painting, crafting bookmarks, reading pointers, story puppets, STEM-OH WOW Kids, and alphabet bracelets, as well as playing spelling-phonics games, journaling and writing stories, interactive pumpkin story-building, music literacy and a drums station, playing games and listening to stories in Spanish, and learning and spelling cheers. There were also B.L. Miller PBIS stations with parent surveys available.

Attendees also had the chance to interact with special guest, hometown author, storyteller and poet, DeLisa Seals, who led an interactive story challenge. Seals is the head clerk of the Sebring branch of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County.

Sebring McKinley football players read books to elementary students during the Literacy Under the Lights event. (Submitted photo)

The Sebring Public Library had its pop-up library van at the event, where attendees could check out books and receive free resources, including signing up for their own library cards.

During halftime, students and families set up blankets and read together on the court.

Guests had the chance to participate in a book swap, and new books were collected to hand out to students in the district. More than 20 prizes were awarded, including a grand prize of a Reading Nook for one girl and one boy.

“Rain couldn’t stop our community from gathering to celebrate literacy, so although we typically have our event out on the football field under the lights, we instead enjoyed a cozy evening in our gym,” said Jill Dennis, family engagement coordinator for Sebring Local Schools. “We’re really proud of our older students for taking the initiative to be leaders and role models, and our younger students for their excitement to read and learn.”

Students also had the opportunity to receive purple postcards for displaying and reciting the B.L. promise, “Be responsible, be respectful, be safe and be positive,” organized by members of the school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports team.

Sebring McKinley football players read books to elementary students during the Literacy Under the Lights event. (Submitted photo)

In addition to Sebring’s students and staff, the event was made possible through the support of its partners, including B.L. Miller Elementary Partners in Education (P.I.E.) and PBIS team, Sebring Library, United Way’s Success After Six program, Author and Poet DeLisa Seals, Carl & Josie Scarpitti Foundation, Sebring Band Boosters, Tim Ramsayer-A Friend of the Sebring Schools, and community volunteers.

Sebring’s new mascot Trojan Troy was also in attendance, participating in literacy activities and interacting with families.

Sebring second grader Briella Fotheringham (pictured) and third grader Daniel Ullam were the grand prize winners and were each awarded a reading nook.

Sebring second grader Briella Fotheringham and third grader Daniel Ullam (pictured)) were the grand prize winners and were each awarded a reading nook.