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DeLauro Congratulates Students on Completing Rosa’s Readers Program

April 28, 2018

NORTH HAVEN, CT (April 28, 2018) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today visited North 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 18 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 takes a village, and the success of this program each year 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."

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Congresswoman DeLauro with students who completed Rosa's Readers program (top), bookmark contest winner Alisiana Nocerino (bottom left), and Big Reader Derek Demko (bottom right).

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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, 211 students from 19 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

  • Derek Demko of Seymour, Bungay Elementary School, 210 books

Super Readers: Read between 75 and 100 books

  • James Shepherd of Seymour, Bungay Elementary School, 90 books
  • Remi Tomlin of New Haven, Edgewood Elementary School, 105 books
  • Cassidy Roberts of Northford, Jerome Harrison Elementary School, 88 books
  • Eleanor Flynn of Milford, Live Oaks Elementary School, 136 books

Star Readers: Read between 50 and 75 books

  • Emma Rose Hansen of North Branford, Jerome Harrison Elementary School, 50 books
  • Alisiana Nocerino of North Branford, Jerome Harrison Elementary School, 64 books
  • Nico Nocerino of North Branford, Jerome Harrison Elementary School, 57 books
  • Jonathan Berkhin of Guilford, Melissa Jones Elementary School, 56 books
  • Giulia Lynn Rollo of Stratford, Soto School, 68 books
  • Brianna Zafe of Stratford, Soto School, 64 books
  • Chase Livieri-Gagne of Hamden, West Woods Elementary School, 66 books
  • Samantha Restrepo of Hamden, West Woods Elementary School, 50 books

During the ceremony, each student received a certificate of special recognition, as well as a bookmark that was designed by Alisiana Nocerino of North Branford (Jerome Harrison Elementary School). Honorable mentions in the bookmark contest include Nathan Viscuso of Northford (Jerome Harrison Elementary School), Leila Klein of Milford (Live Oaks Elementary School), and Ziam Khan of Middletown (Moody Elementary School).

Issues:Education