Mid Celebrates March Reading Month at Local Elementary Schools

Mid Michigan College celebrated Reading Month this March by reading to over 1,500 students in Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, and Mecosta counties.

Mid’s Athletic Director, Danny Smith, and a group of student-athletes traveled to 16 different schools to read children Mid’s original book, Harry the Heron Spreads His Wings, featuring Mid’s mascot.

Harry the Heron himself was present during the readings, offering students highfives and hugs.

“Reading Month is an amazing opportunity for us to connect with our local schools and community partners,” shared Smith. “Bringing our athletes along was a great way to engage our students and was a memorable experience for both Mid and the classrooms we visited.”

The original book came to fruition in 2015 through the talents and efforts of Mid’s staff members, who developed the storyline, wrote it, and illustrated it. It features a young Harry who dislikes all of the ways that he differs from his classmates until he learns that his differences also make him special.

Each student received a custom Harry the Heron bookmark, and a Harry the Heron Spreads His Wings book was donated to each school’s library.

Schools read at include

• Beal City
• Beaverton
• Chippewa Hills - Weidman Elementary
• Clare
• Coleman
• Fancher
• Farwell
• Ganiard
• Gladwin Intermediate
• Harrison
• Mary McGuire
• Pullen
• Renaissance
• Shepard
• Vowles
• Winn

“Connecting with residents and young students throughout the region reflects the College’s ongoing commitment to empowering learners of all ages,” shared Holle Angellotti, Community Outreach Specialist at Mid. “Reading Month is just one of many ways that all of us at Mid give back throughout the year to the local communities we serve and reside in.”

For more information on partnership opportunities, contact the Community Outreach team at (989) 773-6622 x651 or lifelonglearning@midmich.edu.