FAIRFAX, Va. – In celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday, several George Mason Athletics teams visited Fairfax Villa Elementary School to participate in the National Education Association's (NEA) Read Across America Day on February 28. Members of the men's basketball, women's basketball, lacrosse, rowing, dance, wrestling and volleyball teams took time to celebrate with local elementary students.
Over 40 Mason student-athletes visited the local elementary school to read books with students aged kindergarten to fifth grade. The Patriots were greeted at the school by teachers and students and were escorted to different classrooms to engage in reading and discussion with the students.
“It was so much fun, they were so cute,” commented junior rower Amanda Houlihan. “They were so into it.”
The Patriots chose books ranging from Dr. Seuss classics to modern day twists on old classics. The elementary students were given an opportunity to ask the Patriots questions about college life and their specific sports.
“I thought the kids and I connected,” said sophomore men's basketball player Patrick Holloway. “I made them laugh a little bit. I felt like they had a good time and I learned all their names.”
NEA's Read Across America Day is celebrated annually on March 2nd, the birthday of beloved children's author, Dr. Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. It generates enthusiasm for reading nationwide and focuses the country's attention on how important it is to motivate children to read.
Mason will continue their celebration of Read Across America on Saturday, March 8 when the Patriots take on Duquesne at 7:00 p.m. The first 1,000 kids to attend the game will receive a golden ticket. The winning tickets will be revealed during the first half, and winners will receive a copy of The Last Ackaway by Gary Karton. Karton will be on-hand to sign the copies of the book at halftime. Additionally, 2006 Final Four star and 2014 Atlantic-10 legend Lamar Butler will have a pre-game read-along to all children in Section 112 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
To take advantage of a special 50% ticket discount for Read Across America participants to Saturday's game, please click here.
