YSU Student Organization Honors Dr. Seuss with Read Across America Day

More than 30 airmen from Joint Base Charleston - Air Base volunteered their time to read Dr. Seuss books to local children from Kindergarten through fifth grade at St. Andrews Elementary School in Charleston. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Airman 1st Class Tom Brading)

 

By Marc Weems

 

The Youngstown Student Education Association is holding its ninth annual Read Across America Day. Read across America is an event based around Dr. Seuss’ birthday. This event gives Youngstown State University students with children aged 3-10 an opportunity to participate in a day of reading.

 

The event is being held on Saturday in the McKay Auditorium of the Beeghly College of Education.

 

William Palma, the social media director of the YSEA and the Ohio Student Education Association, spoke about the event as a whole.

 

“It’s mainly education majors who volunteer, but really anyone is welcome to help out. We invite kids roughly aged 3-10 to come in with their families, so there are people of all ages running around the Beeghly College of Education.”

 

He also noted that the event gives parents a chance to educate themselves about the necessity of reading just as the children do during the event.

 

Marissa Mraz, president of the YSEA, spoke about the important link between the university and the city.

More than 30 airmen from Joint Base Charleston - Air Base volunteered their time to read Dr. Seuss books to local children from Kindergarten through fifth grade at St. Andrews Elementary School in Charleston. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Airman 1st Class Tom Brading)
More than 30 airmen from Joint Base Charleston – Air Base volunteered
their time to read Dr. Seuss books to local children from Kindergarten
through fifth grade at St. Andrews Elementary School in Charleston. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Airman 1st Class Tom Brading)

 

“Read across America is an event that is known nationally and put on by the National Education Association,” Mraz says. “It is important that Youngstown and those affiliated with YSU see the presence of a campus student organization. We feel it necessary to promote literacy as the RAA event does all over the nation.”

 

Demetrianna Antonelli, YSEA historian and a state representative for the OSEA, spoke about what the event holds for the children and parents who attend.

 

“We have a parent station, so the parents can gather information on reading and why it is important,” Antonelli said. “There are different stations for each Dr. Seuss book, and the children express themselves by completing activities at each station.”

 

She says that the event is important to the children because they learn the importance of reading for fun. It also allows the parents to have time away from their children while receiving an education on the benefits of reading.

 

“This event is so important because we focus on reading and how reading can be fun,” Antonelli said. “I personally enjoy this event because I love seeing how the children react when you give them a sticker or when they are able to make something themselves.”

 

The YSEA holds the event to further the educational work of Dr. Seuss. The event celebrates Seuss’ 112th birthday. Seuss’ work is world-renowned and has been around for more than 50 years.