Governor Brownback Announces Read Kansas Read Top Readers

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback announced Thursday the top readers of the Read Kansas Read summer reading program. He and First Lady Mary Brownback will host the students and their families for a picnic and celebration catered by Freddy�??s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers at Cedar Crest this Saturday, August 18th.

Read Kansas Read is a summer reading program launched last May by Governor Brownback, the Kansas State Board of Education and the State Library of Kansas. Students across Kansas spent the summer recording the books they read on their reading logs. On August 1st, more than 400 readers turned in their reading logs that listed more than 10,000 books read during the two month period. Two K-12 students from each of the ten State Board of Education districts who read the most number of books were invited to join the Governor and First Lady for the picnic.

�??What a great summer of reading we had in Kansas. Thanks to all of the students, parents and librarians across the state for taking part in our first summer reading program,�?� Governor Brownback said. �??Read Kansas Read was designed to be a fun way to help children bridge the gap between classroom learning in the spring and the fall. First Lady Brownback and I hope that it helped instill a life-long love for reading and got the students ready for school this fall.�?�

The Read Kansas Read top K-12 readers are:

Taylor Beckley, Weir Emily Kresin, Shawnee Savindu Buluwana, Overland Park Lydia Dawn Roelker, Osage City Brianna Ward, Osage City Angela Davis, Wichita Paige Albert, Wichita Alice Griffith, Chanute Lacie Bratton, Wichita Abbie Shurts, Wichita Emily Flaming, Hillsboro Brooke Nafziger, Canton Blake Disberger, Manhattan Abigail Schlodder, Holton Rylee Fann, Hugoton Madison Seyb, Johnson Jamie Reavis, Osawatomie Taylor Snodgrass, LaCygne Tatiana Javier, Kansas City Darick Charles, Kansas City

In addition to celebrating the kids�?? summer reading success, the Governor and First Lady also will present a check to a winning Kansas library. In June, First Lady Brownback announced the Kansas Book Festival will present a $500 grant to one library that participated in the Read Kansas Read program.