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����ԭ��’s president and dozens of faculty and staff are reading to children at Mini University during a month-long March Madness-themed event encouraging them to read as many books as possible.

Each Mini U classroom is tracking the books students are reading, and the classroom with the most books at the end of March will receive a pizza party.

“I love coming to Mini U to encourage reading,” said ����ԭ�� President Sue Edwards, Ph.D. “Reading is so important for brain development in children and it’s so much fun.”

Provost Jim Denniston, Ph.D., Joylynn Brown, director of athletics, ����ԭ�� police officers, University Libraries staff and other administrators all picked out their favorite children’s books to read to several classes.

“Kids need to know how to read,” said Beth Anderson, a coordinator in the Educational Resource Center, who read books dressed up as Mrs. Flutterbutter, a glamor divine reader from the library.

Amber Keele, Mini University education specialist, said the guest readers are setting up the children for success in the future.

“As parents and teachers read to children, it helps build their vocabulary, which will set them up for success for their entire school career,” said Keele.