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3rd-graders in WISH-TV, NCAA reading programs go to IUPUI basketball game

Central Indiana third-graders in reading programs attend the men's basketball game between IUPUI and Wisconsin-Green Bay on Feb. 6, 2020, at Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Indianapolis. (WISH Photo)

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Over 2,000 central Indiana third-graders had a special day at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

News 8’s sports director Anthony Calhoun greeted them before an IUPUI men’s basketball game. “I got one question for you. Who loves to read?”

Calhoun served as emcee along with Miss Indiana USA Alexis Lete. Attending Thursday afternoon’s game between IUPUI and Wisconsin-Green Bay was a special gift to the students who took part in the WISH-TV and NCAA reading programs I Love to Read and Readers Become Leaders.

Victor Hill, associate director of community programs for the NCAA, said, “We have to be good community stewards. We all live here and we have children who are in these school districts and when they explained to us the importance of the literacy and especially for the third-graders it was a no-brainier for us to get together with WISH-TV and IUPUI and make sure we do our part and promote reading.”

The reading initiatives encourage students to read at least 30 minutes a day.