KU reading program celebrates its millionth student

? Alyssa Paul loves adventure and mystery novels, but on Thursday she made the history books.

The fourth-grader was introduced as the millionth reader to enter the Kansas University Reading Program for Children during a ceremony at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.

“Reading is one of my favorite things to do,” she said.

Officials at KU Continuing Education, which administers the 56-year-old program, determined last week that a student from Hillsdale Elementary School in Miami County was the millionth child to enter the program. Alyssa’s name was drawn from a bucket that included all the Hillsdale participants.

Third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from the school attended the Topeka ceremony, which also included KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway; Mary Cohen, the regional representative of the U.S. Secretary of Education; and KU mascot Baby Jay.

The Reading Program for Children, which includes 30,000 Kansas students in 200 schools, gives a certificate with a silver seal to students who read 15 books in a year and a gold seal to students who read 25 books.

Four-year participants receive an embroidered Jayhawk patch.

“It’s done for all the right reasons  to help the children,” said JoAnn Smith, dean of continuing education. “I often say we’re encouraging good readers and future leaders.”

Alyssa’s favorite book is “Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson. The book is about the friendship of two fifth-graders torn apart when one dies.

“It shows how to be close to your friends and no matter what your age that you can dream,” Alyssa said.

Alec Burford, another fourth-grader, picked another dark book  “Leon’s Story” by Leon Walter Tillage  for his favorite. The story is about a boy whose father dies on the boy’s 15th birthday.

“Some of them said they didn’t want to finish it because it was too sad,” Alec said.

Sandra Hill, Hillsdale school librarian, said the KU program encouraged students to read a wider variety of books than similar programs organized at the school.

“This gives the kids an award at the end of the year,” she said.