CHENEY, Wash. — Eastern Washington men's basketball continues to make an impact beyond the court through its Read Like an Eagle program, which has expanded its reach in year two to more than 35 elementary schools across the Cheney and Spokane public school systems, reaching more than 12,000 students throughout the region.

Read Like an Eagle pairs EWU men's basketball players and coaches with local elementary students to make reading fun, engaging and rewarding. This fall, the Eagles launched a six-week reading challenge running from Oct. 19 through Nov. 30, encouraging students to read outside of the school day and track their progress through weekly reading logs.

The program has also become a significant community service initiative for the Eagles. This year's school visits include 15 Eastern Washington players and eight staff members, with Eagle student-athletes contributing 366 volunteer hours. The program has conducted approximately 175 classroom read-alouds, averaging seven classrooms per school.

Each Read Like an Eagle school visit lasts approximately one hour and begins with a 30-minute assembly. Players introduce students to the EWU basketball program, discuss why reading matters and help students set goals for the challenge. The assembly also gives students a chance to learn more about the Eagles through basketball activities, including a slam dunk contest.

Following the assembly, players and coaches break into smaller groups and head into classrooms, where they read picture books selected by teachers and spend time interacting with students. The visits allow Eagle student-athletes to share their own experiences with reading and education while building connections with students throughout the community.

The challenge sets age-appropriate reading goals for participating students. Kindergarten students are challenged to read 50 minutes each week for a total of 300 minutes, while students in first through fifth grade are challenged to read 100 minutes per week for a total of 600 minutes during the six-week program.

Students who meet their reading goal earn a free ticket to an Eastern Washington men's basketball home game during the Big Sky Conference season along with a prize. Participating students will have opportunities to attend games at Reese Court against Portland State, Montana State and Idaho, with Cheney School District game assignments to be announced.

The impact of the program has already been felt inside participating schools.

"The EWU basketball assembly and the opportunity for players to read with our students created such a special experience for our kids! The excitement throughout the building was amazing," said Garfield Elementary Principal George Gessler. "It meant so much to our students that these college athletes took the time to connect with them, read alongside them, and show them that school and reading matter."

Gessler added that the reading challenge gives students an exciting goal to work toward and that the opportunity to earn tickets to an EWU basketball game makes their work even more rewarding.

Fans can also get an inside look at a Read Like an Eagle visit through Eastern Washington forward Alton Hamilton IV's recent trip to Willard Elementary. The video takes viewers along for the school assembly and classroom experience, providing a glimpse into how Eagle student-athletes are connecting with local students.

Watch: Mic'd Up — Alton Hamilton IV Visits Willard Elementary | Read Like an Eagle

Video courtesy of Spokane Public Schools.

Through Read Like an Eagle, Eastern Washington men's basketball continues to use its platform to promote literacy, connect with the local community and give elementary students an opportunity to build relationships with Eagle student-athletes.



ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.

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