Berry College athletes and education majors recently launched a reading program for elementary students in Floyd County.

The Berry College Athletics SCORE (Success, Creativity, Opportunity, Reinforcement and Excel) program is designed to inspire reading and comprehension for pre- kindergarten through fifth-grade students in Floyd County and the Rome community. Berry student-athletes partner with education majors to read at local schools throughout the school year. 

"This is a program I am very excited about for Berry College and the Rome community.  I envision the program expanding to offer more services and further connecting Berry with the local elementary schools," said Berry Women's Head Basketball Coach Stephanie Dunn.

Each school's principal chooses a book, donated by international education honor society Kappa Delta Pi, for Berry students to read to a specific class. "Salt In His Shoes" is one of several books chosen for the program. The book, written by Michael Jordan's mother and sister, tells the story of the young athlete's struggle to excel in basketball due to his height. The lesson is that "practice, determination, and giving your best" are the keys to being "a real winner." 

Berry's student athletes also will present each student and teacher with free admission tickets to attend a Berry athletic event.

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Prepared by Student Public Relations Assistant Katherine McDonald.