HILO, Hawai`i—72 University of Hawai`i Hilo students and student-athletes read Dr. Seuss books to over 2,500 elementary students at seven East Hawai`i schools on Friday, March 1 as a part of the Dr. Seuss Read Across America Day.

Vulcan teams from the sports of baseball, softball, volleyball, men's basketball, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's soccer visited the following Big Island elementary schools—Hilo Union, Kaumana, Ha`aheo, Waiakea, Kea`au, Kapiolani and Keaukaha.

This was a collaborative event between UH Hilo Athletics and the Campus and Community Service office, a part of Campus Center. The Education Club and Kapaa Psi a DKICP RISO were also involved.

"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 22nd annual Dr. Seuss Read Across America program. All across the country, celebrities, athletes and teams visited schools and read Dr. Seuss books to children, on the legendary writer's 115^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 collaborated with Maile Boggeln, the UHH Campus and Community Service Coordinator, to organize the event. The Campus and Community Service program has been participating in Read Across America for over 16 years.

"This is such a wonderful event that we have the privilege of putting on each year," Boggeln said. "The partnership between Athletics and CCS bridges two major units on campus, and the opportunity not only provides our students with meaningful volunteer opportunities, but it helps inspire a new generation of readers that will hopefully join us at UH Hilo down the road."

At each school, the UH Hilo student-athletes gave out book markers, pens, erasers and books, and spent time reading and visiting with the kids.