WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Read To Succeed Is Back

Published on October 1, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- The Brandon School Division, in partnership with CIBC and the Brandon Wheat Kings have announced the return of the popular "Read to Succeed" Program for the 2008-2009 Western Hockey League season.

The program, which was introduced by the Wheat Kings, CIBC and Brandon School Division in September 2004 and was designed after a pilot project developed by the WHL's Vancouver Giants seven years ago, features several members of the hockey club visiting schools throughout Brandon and surrounding area.

Student participation during the first two years of the local program has come in at virtually 100% with many students exceeding the programs required by the participating schools.

Last year's program involved over twenty schools, over forty classrooms and approximately 1,000 students. "Read to Succeed" encourages students in grades two to five to spend extra time reading - both at home and in school.

19-year old Captain Keith Aulie, a former WHL Scholastic Player of the Year, will be joined this year by 19-year old local product Matt Calvert, Florida Panthers' second round draft choice Colby Robak, former Medicine Hat Tiger Matt Lowry and veteran goalkeeper Joe Caligiuri.

These players will visit schools this season, talking to students about the importance of reading and education. In all cases, the players will read to the students and upon successfully completing a literacy challenge, introduced by each classroom teacher, the players will reward them with bookmarks and complimentary tickets, made possible by CIBC, to an upcoming game at Westman Place.

In addition to a number of Brandon schools, the Wheat Kings visited a variety of rural schools last winter including such communities as Forrest, Hamiota, Elkhorn, Waskada, Wawanesa and Carberry.

Each classroom presentation, which will include time for reading, questions and answers will take approximately 25-30 minutes. Schools interested in scheduling a Wheat Kings CIBC Read to Succeed visit are encouraged to contact Rick Dillabough at 726-3535 or by email at rickdillabough@wheatkings.com

The Wheat Kings would like t o thank CIBC for its continued support of this valuable community outreach program.

For more information on the program, it's goals and objectives, visit www.wheatkings.com

The first Read to Succeed visit is scheduled for Thursday morning at O'Kelly School in Shilo. Two players - Aulie and Lowry - will be visiting several classrooms.

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