HILO, Hawai`i—90 University of Hawai`i Hilo students and student-athletes read Dr. Seuss books to over 2,300 elementary students at seven East Hawai`i schools on Friday, March 2 as a part of the Dr. Seuss Read Across America Day.

Vulcan teams from the sports of baseball, softball, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's soccer and campus community services volunteers visited the following Big Island elementary schools--Keaukaha, Kaumana, Ha`aheo, Waiakea, Kea`au and Prince Johan Kalanianaole Intermediate School.

This was a collaborative event between UH Hilo Athletics and the Campus and Community Service program, a part of Campus Center. This year, the number of readers and the number of students that were read to, both increased.

"This is always one of my favorite days of the year," said UH Hilo athletic director Patrick Guillen. "The keiki and our UHH student-athletes really enjoy this event. The smiles and interactions between both is very rewarding to see."

The outreach was done in collaboration with the National Education Association's 21^st annual Dr. Seuss Read Across American program. All across the country, celebrities, athletes and teams visited schools and read Dr. Seuss books to children, on the legendary writer's 114^th birthday. Dr. Seuss wrote 46 books for children before passing away in 1991 at the age of 87. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Lifetime of Contribution to Children's Literature.

The Vulcan athletic department partnered with Maile Boggeln, the UHH Interim Campus and Community Service Coordinator, and Heather Simon, Student Assistant for Campus and Community Services to organize the event. The Campus and Community Service program has been participating in Read Across America for over 15 years.

"We really enjoy partnering with UHH athletics for this event," Boggeln said. "It's a great collaborative effort between the two units. Additionally, Heather did a great job coordinating so many of the details."

At each school, the UH Hilo athletes and students gave out book markers, pens, erasers and books.

"We greatly appreciate the students at the University of Hawai`i Hilo coming to spend time with our kids," said Mary Lou Haasenritter, the Parent Community Networking Coordinator at Kaumana Elementary School. "We value our partnership with the university and appreciate their true community spirit."