WSRE Press Room

Sixth Annual “Scoop’s Reading Challenge” Rewards More Than 19,100 Area Students

The Pensacola Pelicans and WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast partnered to host the 6th annual "Scoop's Reading Challenge" earlier in 2010. Portofino Island and Levin Rinke Resort Realty, Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union, and Tom Thumb also joined the team this year to help promote literacy. More than 780 teachers registered their classrooms in February and motivated more than 19,100 students to participate with cool prizes and the chance to earn up to two tickets to a Pensacola Pelicans baseball game. This year, more than 15,100 Pensacola Pelican game tickets were earned by students in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa County schools.

This year, in addition to the game tickets and prizes awarded to participants, Pelicans owners Quint and Rishy Studer will make a $10,000 donation to the school with the highest percentage of Scoop's Reading Challenge tickets redeemed by their students this season.

"Scoop's Reading Challenge" offers a fun and unique way to engage students in reading. This incentive-based program is free to all K-8 public, private and home schools in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties and is easily adaptable for any grade level. The program is set up on a "base" system. For each reading goal a student completes, they will advance to the next base, thus earning them the prize associated with that base.
Stephanie Stabler, third grade teacher at Pine Meadow Elementary School notes the impact this program has had on her class: "My classes have participated in the Scoop's Reading Challenge since the Challenge began several years ago. Nothing has motivated my reluctant readers more than this program. Thanks to the Pelicans and all of their sponsors for the Scoop's Reading Challenge! You have helped make a difference in the way my students have looked at reading for fun."

Pelicans General Manager, Talmadge Nunnari notes the growth of the reading program, "We are proud of the impact that Scoop's Reading Challenge has in our community. In 2010, we had nearly 20,000 students excited about reading in our local schools. Earning prizes and tickets to a baseball game is a great motivator for the children." WSRE’s Director of Educational Services, Jill Hubbs hopes the momentum continues. “This program has been an excellent vehicle for reaching thousands of children to promote the importance of literacy. It also helps WSRE extend its mission beyond the TV directly into the classroom to help strengthen literacy in our community.”

For more information on the program, please contact the Pelicans office at (850) 934-8444 or visit the website at www.pensacolapelicans.com.