Champion of reading
Coleman Scott, a U.S. bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, was a guest speaker at Waynesburg Central Elementary School Monday for Read Across America activities.
Scott accepted the school’s invitation and paid his airfare from his home in Stillwater, Okla., to read for two sessions at the school.
Scott is a graduate of Waynesburg High School, where he won three PIAA wrestling championships; and of Oklahoma State University, where he was an NCAA wrestling champion.
Scott’s appearance kicked off a week-long period of activities at Waynesburg Central Elementary for the Read Across America program, which is sponsored by the National Education Association.
Other guest readers who are participating in the school activities are Linda Mariner, a local author who wrote “Johnny and the Preacher,” which chronicles for children the adventures of a pet crow and includes a fact page about the bird; and Andi Buchanan, the author of “Rain Day,” a children’s book that describes interesting facts about the local event.
The school conducted a used book sale during which about 4,000 books were distributed throughout the community.
On Thursday, the school will hold a Reading Scavenger Hunt for students and family members. Books will be read by teachers and other members of the community, and all children will receive a book, compliments of the PTA.