Village of Westmont
Date Issued: March 11, 2015
Updated: March 12, 2015
The ILLINOIS READS Program is a State-wide reading advocacy program sponsored by the Illinois Reading Council. “Our goal is simple - we want to encourage everyone to develop and sustain a love for reading,” says IRC Project Chair Tammy Swinford-Potts, who is also the founder of the Illinois Reads Program. “To get people excited about our upcoming annual event in April, we’re happy to announce the ‘I Love Reading’ Essay Contest.”
The contest invites all students from throughout the State of Illinois to write an essay, up to 500 words, that explains why they love to read. There will be two contest divisions: K-5, 6-12. Participants should fill out the online sign-up form as well as email their essays to aquattrone@cusd201.org. All essays must be submitted by Friday, April 10 by 5 p.m. All participants will be notified regarding contest results by Monday, April 13.
The two overall winners of the essay contest will receive the following:
* An overnight hotel stay at the Chicago-Oakbrook Hilton Resort,
* VIP Meeting with Illinois Authors at the event,
* Transportation to and from the hotel to the event,
* Free books signed by the authors in attendance,
* & the overall winners will be recognized and honored at the annual ILLINOIS READS launch!
To sign up for the contest, please click on the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UTj_sPr4WE7A5TmRss0XJXdyRa2z3ep4qFIldoLyuOk/viewform
“We are so excited to bring this program to Westmont,” says Amy Quattrone, 2015 ILLINOIS READS Launch Event Chair. “This is the first time that this event will be held outside of Springfield, so we are honored to be part of this opportunity.” The 2015 ILLINOIS READS launch will be held at Westmont High School, 909 N. Oakwood Drive, in Westmont, Illinois on Saturday, April 18. The event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature more than 20 Illinois authors who will be on hand to talk with young and older readers as well as sign their books.
“We’re looking for sponsors, volunteers and event participants,” adds Quattrone. “If you’re interested in supporting this event and encouraging people of all ages to be great readers, then please join us.” For more information, contact Amy at aquattrone@cusd201.org or visit their website at IllinoisReads.org.
Following is a list of authors that will be in attendance to talk with young readers and writers:
Jennifer Allison, Elizabeth Blackwell, Miriam Busch & Larry Day, Ilene Cooper, Christa Desir, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Kat Falls, Scott Gustafson, Stephanie Hemphill, Jaleigh Johnson, James Klise, Demitria Lunetta, Sally M. Walker, Rebecca Makkai, Marianne Malone, Gayle Rosengren, Barb Rosenstock, Leanne Statland Ellis, and Rich Cohen.
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