JEROMESVILLE— A crisp fall night. A football field. Bright stadium lights. And camp chairs and books on the 50-yard line?

Area residents came together on Hillsdale High School’s football field last week to share the love and importance of reading.

Hillsdale’s Million Words Club, a school group promoting literacy, partnered with the Academic Boosters to host the free family event “Reading Under the Lights.” The event was geared towards students in Pre-K through fifth grades and aimed to create excitement for and to model the joy of reading. 

“When planning under the lights we discussed a lot of different ways to go about it, the main discussion being how to get a free book in the hands of every kid that attends,” middle school English teacher Ms. Rebecca Sankoe said. “We also wanted to capitalize on our district theme of being better together, so we wanted to include older students as role models.”

High school “celebrities” from a variety of organizations were on hand to read to or with the younger students. Students could also choose to read to therapy dogs from Caring Therapy Canines.

“I thought, personally, it was a great experience because I like to read to little kids. It just makes me happy that the whole football team can do this stuff for the community,” freshman Hunter Wagner said.

Michelle Bible, of Jeromesville, and her third grade son Conner Butler attended the event.

“These are Conner’s heroes. He looks up to them, talks about them,” Bible said. “They made him feel like he was one of them.”

She noted how the football players joked with him while reading to him.

“I hope the football players keep doing what they’re doing. They’re doing a great job,” Bible said.

Senior football players, Drew Adams and Alex Glass said that they enjoyed the experience, too. 

“It was cool to read with the kids. It benefited both parties,” Adams said.

“I thought it was a good chance to interact with kids, and I hope they [the school] continue to do it in the future,” Glass said.

In addition to reading, those in attendance could make a bookmark and participate in a scavenger hunt, earning a free book upon completion. They could also bring a book to swap for another as part of an exchange.

“My girls loved ‘Reading Under the Lights,’” said Alyssa Russell of Hayesville. “We will definitely look forward to it next year.”

Her daughter Dakota is in second grade, and Hunter is in kindergarten. Both are Hillsdale Elementary students.

The Million Words Club also tracks the number of words read from June to May by participating students, faculty and staff, administration and community members. Those reaching certain milestones are then awarded a prize, such as  bookmarks, ice cream coupons and t-shirts.

The middle school Photo Journalism class interviews those who reach one million words and writes a short piece on the individuals as a part of their coursework to promote the program.  Check out a few of their submissions which will be posted on the district website at http://www.hillsdale.k12.oh.us/district/million-words-club