In a campaign to raise reading awareness, Jumpstart kicked off its “Reading for the Record,” with a spot on NBC’s Today Show in late August. The show was the first of a day-long series of events that paired pre-schoolers with older students and adults to share the joy of reading.

The special edition of the book, The Little Engine that Could, was published gratis by Pearson, a group of educational publishers.

Alumnus William Barke ’66, CEO of Pearson’s Addison Wesley Higher Education and Jumpstart board member was interviewed on the NBC program.

Thanks to Bill, the Reading for the Record event at Shippensburg University was able to distribute copies of the book to all who attended, including copies for the libraries in the Shippensburg school district including the Luhrs University Elementary School on campus.

Approximately 40 Head Start children from the Chambersburg and Shippensburg areas were on hand for the festivities that included storytelling before each child was read the story by an older student or volunteer.

Dr. Peggy Hockersmith, associate dean of the College of Education and Human Services, promises next year will be even bigger. “We limited this year’s event to 40 children. But for next year we will have more of our undergraduate students come to campus before the start of the semester to take part.” And she said, Bill Barke told her a new book would be selected for next year’s activities.

Yes, they could! Area students read The Little Engine that Could to preschoolers in SU’s first “Reading for the Record.” Right: Nicole Zarefoss, SU’s new VISTA coordinator, and Ashley, a graduate assistant in the College of Education and Human Services, check over materials for the event.