JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | For the 21st consecutive year, the New Jersey City University athletics department has participated in the national celebration of "Read Across America," sponsored by The National Education Association (NEA). That traditional continued on March 8 when a group of 10 Gothic Knight student athletes representing nine different athletic programs continued NJCU's long-standing involvement in the program.
 
Read Across America Photo Gallery
 
For the second year in a row, student-athletes were guests of the Washington Elementary School in nearby Kearny, N.J. and spent several hours visiting with and reading books to the children in grades 3-6, including many Dr. Seuss favorites.
 
During the visit, student-athletes shared their experiences and discussed the importance of reading in their lives. Jacqueline Da Silva and Diane Warnock were among the Washington Elementary School teachers that embraced the Gothic Knights during the visit.
 
NJCU's involvement in the program began in 1998 with retired men's basketball coach Charlie Brown and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). It is one of many community outreach programs the NJCU athletics department is involved with annually.
 
Now in its 21st year, the year-round Read Across America program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships and reading resources.
 
Nationally, the NEA's "Read Across America" program began in 1997 with the goal of focusing the country's attention on how important it is to motivate children to read in addition to helping them master basic skills. The nationwide reading celebration takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. The 2019 event marked the celebration of Dr. Seuss' 115^th birthday.
 
Participating Gothic Knights included:

• Davauni Brown `17; NJCU's Community Recreation Coordinator
• Freshman back Luther Bakekolo (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) of the NJCU men's soccer team
• Freshman Raphael Castro (Union City, NJ/Union City) of the NJCU men's indoor and outdoor track and field program
• Freshman Ali Chaudhry (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) of the NJCU men's cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field program
• Freshman Dave Etienne (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) of the NJCU men's cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field program
• Sophomore back Tiffany Depaiva (Union, NJ/Union) of the NJCU women's soccer team
• Junior midfielder Ron Jones of the NJCU men's soccer team
• Freshman Natalia Ordonez (Weehawken, NJ/Weehawken) of the NJCU women's cross country, basketball and outdoor track and field teams.
• Junior back Douglas Reyes (Union City, NJ/Union City) of the NJCU men's soccer team participated for the second year in a row
• Sophomore midfielder Nelson Segovia (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) of the NJCU men's soccer team
• Freshman outside hitter/opposite Yaidettive Vega (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) of the NJCU women's volleyball team

 
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