Celebrate Literacy Week honors student bookworms BY LINDA HERRIDGE
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lementary, middle and high school students from around Florida were honored during a “Celebrate Literacy Week” event Jan. 29 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for their efforts in writing and producing public service announcements (PSAs) that communicate this year’s theme, “Reading Accelerates Success,” and encourage literacy. NASA and the visitor complex partnered with the Florida Department of Education for this year’s Celebrate Literacy Week. The PSA Awards Program
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is sponsored by Just Read, Florida! Participating in the awards ceremony, held in the Astronaut Encounter Theater, were Florida’s first lady Ann Scott; Pam Stewart, Florida Commissioner of Education; Wendy Stevens, director of Just Read, Florida!; Christie Bassett, 2015 Florida Teacher of the Year; Dr. Brian Binggeli, Brevard County Schools superintendent; David Culp, Kennedy’s Communication and Public Engagement deputy director; Therrin Protze, chief operating officer with Delaware North Parks & Resorts at Kennedy; and former NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence. Attendees viewed the finalists’ PSAs on screen. First lady Ann Scott presented the first, second and third place winners in each division with their awards. Each winning team’s school received a check and books for its library. “This is my fifth year participating in the Celebrate Literacy Week,” Scott said. “I love getting to see how Florida students get creative when it comes to sharing their passion for reading.” Florida Teacher of the Year for 2015, Christie Bassett, an art teacher at Highland Scrub Elementary School in Polk County, shared her passion for reading and encouraged students to do the same.