MADISON, Wis. — On March 2, student-athletes donned the classic red and white striped hats as they participated in the nationwide reading holiday, Read Across America Day. The event is held every year on the birthday of children's author, Dr. Seuss.

Read Across America is organized by the National Education Association, an organization that encourages and motivates more than 30 million kids to read. The purpose of this program is to make reading contagious from coast to coast.

The Madison Metropolitan School District implements initiatives that promote children and teens to pick up books and get involved. Every year, student-athletes help encourage reading by visiting local elementary schools to share their favorite childhood books on Read Across America Day.

"The Lorax has been one of my favorite books since I was a kid, and it was awesome to share it with the kids today," says wrestler Rylan Lubeck.

The Badgers traveled to Chavez Elementary and Winnequah Elementary school as part of the reading extravaganza. In addition, student-athletes from women's swimming and diving, women's soccer, women's rowing and football participated in Read Across America visits with multiple schools over Skype video chat.

Women's golfer Brooke Ferrell enjoyed her visit with students from Winnequah Elementary.

"Read Across America Day shows kids how fun reading can be because Dr. Seuss was such an enjoyable writer," Ferrell said. "The kids were so excited to have guest readers in their classrooms! It was an awesome event that I am grateful to have been a part of."

Dr. Seuss said it best, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go!"

For more information on the Badgers involvement in Read Across America or the Badgers Give Back program, please contact Jackie Davenport, Director of Community Relations, at jsu@athletics.wisc.edu.
 

Main Photo: Brooke Ferrell from women's golf shares her love for reading with the kindergarteners at Winnequah Elementary.