COLUMBIA, SC – Read with the Gamecocks recognized Irmo Middle School student Corey Corley as the top eighth grade reader in South Carolina. He read 1,040 pages in two weeks earning him the title of Highest Reading Hero for eighth grade across the state. The Read with the Gamecocks reading program promotes literacy and encourages reading among students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Corey reflected on winning saying, “I felt really surprised and I also felt appreciated… I thought it was nice how I won.” He enjoys reading because it allows your imagination to grow and his favorite genre is mythology. For the competition he read books by two of his favorite authors, Rick Riordon and James Patterson.
“I’m incredibly proud of this young man, I’m excited for him,” said Irmo Middle School Principal Robert Jackson. “We want students to have a love and a passion for reading and we want them to be excellent readers.” Corey is one of many students at Irmo Middle who took on the reading challenge. Irmo Middle places a priority on literacy and is always looking for fun ways to encourage students to read. Jackson continued, “This recognition confirms that this program makes a difference. We will continue to look for innovative ways to make our students great readers. We’re very, very proud of Corey and his accomplishment and we would encourage other students to embrace that love of reading. Being a good reader is a critical life skill.”
The media center coordinated the Read with the Gamecocks program at Irmo Middle School. Each participant read every day for two weeks during the contest and recorded the number of pages on a reading log. All participating students received vouchers to both a South Carolina men’s and women’s basketball game. As one of the state’s grade level Highest Reading Heroes, Corey was recognized with a certificate and an opportunity to meet Cocky post-game. Media Specialist Renee Williams said, “I’m so proud. Corey is one of our top readers so I’m glad that he could show Irmo that we can read and be a part of a big program like the Gamecocks’.”
When asked what his advice would be for other young readers Corey answered, “A book has more power for imagination than something online. Just keep reading!”
