Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon sophomore Cameron Sinclair reads to local elementary students as a part of the Falcon Readers program
Bowling Green Hockey Kicks Off Falcon Reader Program
November 12, 2009 | Ice Hockey
Photo Gallery (as of Nov. 12)
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green Falcon hockey team has been hustling on the ice all season long and have now launched another community service action that will keep them hustling off the ice as well.
Bowling Green hockey completed the first wave of efforts to influence and help area elementary students reading efforts by participating in the Falcon Readers program. Once a month for the rest of the school year, BGSU hockey players will visit five different Bowling Green area elementary schools and engage second grade students from every school in a book of the students' choosing.
“Our guys go in and the students will have chosen a book or two for them to read to them. The students can listen but can also read those books back to our players,” says assistant hockey coach, Mike Mankowski.
Junior forward Wade Finegan (Toronto, Ont.) shared much of the same excitement as the students that he read to. “I was really happy that they were that into the program and were anxiously anticipating us when we arrived.”
In his first appearance working in the Falcon Readers program last week, Finegan arrived with snacks in hand ready to read “Where the Wild Things Are” to the second grade students of Milton Elementary School. “I was really impressed at their attention and excitement while reading the book to them,” said Finegan. “I read this book growing up and so it was really cool to now get to read it to them. We worked through some words that were tough to pronounce for them, but they made it through the book and really enjoyed it.”
The Falcon Readers program continues the show the efforts of the BGSU hockey team to positively influence the Bowling Green community. Earlier this year, the Falcons helped those at the Black Swamp Festival create their own tie-dye clothing items and currently make appearances at local youth hockey camps held at the BGSU Ice Arena. Next Sunday (Nov. 22) night, the team will invite local residents to the annual “Skate with Falcons” open ice skating sessions, where those in attendance can enjoy the same ice the Falcons compete on with their beloved team.
“We want to be front and center among the athletic teams at BGSU as far as community service is concerned,” said Finegan. “It is really important to us to see kids interested in sport, especially hockey.”
A photo gallery of the team's experiences within the Falcon Readers program will be available online at bgsufalcons.com and continue to grow as the Falcons read along with area elementary students.
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