DeLauro Congratulates Students on Completing the Rosa’s Readers Program

EAST HAVEN, CT (May 6, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today visited East Haven High School to congratulate local elementary school students who have completed the Rosa's Readers program. Established by DeLauro in 2000, the program encourages interest in reading outside of the classroom and helps students develop a lifelong love of reading and learning.

"When we started Rosa's Readers 17 years ago, we had one simple goal—to share with young students our love of reading. Today, thousands of students have joined the program and some of the earliest participants are now in college," said DeLauro. "Encouraging children to read is a group effort and the success of this program would not be possible without the parents, teachers, and volunteers who spend countless hours working with these students. Reading has a tremendous effect in the lives of our children and it is my hope that this program will continue to have a meaningful impact for many years to come."

Each year, the program challenges students to read at least 20 books outside of the classroom over the course of the academic year, and most students read more. Open to all elementary schools in Connecticut's Third Congressional District, 281 students from 25 elementary schools participated in the program this year, reading a total of more than 5,000 books. Since it was started, nearly 8,000 local students have participated in the program.

DeLauro presented the following awards at today's event:

Big Reader: Read the most books of all participants

• Romeo Thompson of Shelton, Booth Hill Elementary School, 150 books

Super Readers: Read between 75 and 100 books

• Evana Pais of Hamden, West Woods School, 81 books
• Riona Pais of Hamden, West Woods School, 83 books

Star Readers: Read between 50 and 75 books

• Tyler Vanacore of Hamden, Bear Path Elementary School, 57 books
• Leah Cruz of Shelton, Booth Hill Elementary School, 64 books

During the ceremony, each student received a certificate of special recognition, as well as a bookmark that was designed by Aydan Davis of North Haven (Clintonville Elementary School). Honorable mentions in the bookmark contest include Hamzah Almogaiad of Shelton (Booth Hill Elementary), Romeo Thompson of Shelton (Booth Hill Elementary School), and Andy Fenstermaker of Seymour (Bungay Elementary School).

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