By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Alabama Education Association (AEA) announced that a Magnolia Elementary School (MES) student is the Alabama winner of the 2022 AEA Be A Champion and Read Contest. With the help of the University of Alabama’s mascot, Big Al, MES recognized Caleb Woods from Tiffany Reed’s First Grade class during a special assembly on Thursday, Nov. 10.
Dr. Faust, Caleb Woods, and Big Al. (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Bishop)
Woods was selected from 20,000 students who have read over 120,000 books. The Be a Champion and Read Contest is in its ninth year as Alabama’s largest and only statewide reading contest. This contest has seen over half a million student participants representing every Alabama school district.
Each year, K-6 students are challenged to read six reading-level books to qualify for the grand prize of attending the Iron Bowl game. In addition, the winner will have sideline access to meet the team’s mascot and cheerleaders and participate in pre-game activities along with two guests.
“We never once dreamed that this would happen to our little school, but we are super thrilled,” MES Principal Dr. Phyllis Faust said. “This would not have happened without Rebecca Bishop. Rebecca is the one who would send me announcements to read and discuss and to talk to the kids.”
According to Faust, MES Librarian Rebecca Bishop was the one who kept up with how many books the students read and is the one who made this possible.
2022 AEA Be A Champion and Read Contest winner Caleb Woods. (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Bishop)
“That’s just amazing that $120,000 books were read for this contest,” Bishop said. “It just recreates excitement in the students for reading, and they’re so proud of reading those books and turning in their form and getting the recognition.”
Bishop said Faust has a spirit of reading that she spreads throughout the school every morning. For MES to win, Bishop said it’s given the school an extra boost of encouragement, especially in the area of reading.
“I’m beyond ecstatic that one of our students won, we read because we want to build a love for reading, but when you get a little extra incentive, it’s super cool,” Faust said.
AEA President Susan Brown explained that one winner was drawn for the University of Alabama and one winner for Auburn University. Woods was the winner for the University of Alabama tickets.
Brown said the parents must sign the form, which encourages parent participation in education.
“We know when parents are participating, it’s better for our students, and it’s better for our schools,” Brown said.
