232 MTSU LIBRARY POSTERS INSPIRE TENNESSEE YOUTHS TO READ MORE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 10, 2008
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

MTSU LIBRARY POSTERS INSPIRE TENNESSEE YOUTHS TO READ MORE
College Students of Courage and Achievement Find Reading is Key to Succeeding

(MURFREESBORO) – Four recent MTSU graduates now grace the halls of the James E. Walker Library and the walls of Tennessee high schools on posters encouraging students to read.
The latest READ posters are available for viewing in the periodicals section of the library on the main floor. They feature young people from dramatically different walks of life who found reading to be essential to their academic, spiritual and professional lives.
“All of them have in common that reading is an important part of their success,” says Bill Black, library professor in charge of administrative services.
Black says the project started a couple of years ago when the American Library Association made the software for its own READ poster program available to libraries across the country. While the national project displays celebrities, the MTSU counterpart touts the university’s superstar students.
“It really took the shape of identifying students on campus who could serve as examples to younger students, and younger students would be able to look at these individuals and get some inspiration for what they might be able to do,” says Black.
With a grant from the university and production assistance from the offices of Marketing and Communications, News and Public Affairs, Publications and Graphics and Photo Services, library officials are working gradually to distribute the posters to schools throughout Tennessee.
“It’ll take a fair amount of money to distribute it across the schools with this iteration,” Black says. “But if we do a subset of that and then next year we do another four, eventually there’ll be a set of four in each high school across the state.”
In each poster, a student holds a book that exemplifies that individual’s interests or attitudes. The featured students on this year’s posters are:

*John Awan, a native of southern Sudan and a refugee camp survivor who now is enrolled in seminary at The University of the South in Sewanee; An MTSU graduate with a major in public administration, Awan has volunteered in the United Nation’s Child-to-Child program and worked to collect two tons of books for shipment to Sudan. He is focused on putting his knowledge and his faith to use for the betterment of his war-torn nation. “I know very well that my years at Middle Tennessee State University have prepared me for these future challenges,” Awan says. “This is an honor I see as an encouragement to do some more work, and I will carry it with me for the rest of the time ahead of me.” He holds the Walker Library’s re-edition of the Gutenberg Bible.

*Matthew Bullington of Murfreesboro, the recipient of a Presidential Scholarship, which paid for all four years of his MTSU education; Now holding an economics degree, Bullington was active on campus in the Student Government Association, University Honors Council, Raider Representatives, and the university orchestra. He belonged to two honor societies, Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key International. Bullington’s volunteer work included musical performances at residential care centers and debate coaching for a home-school debate team. He holds the book 1776 by David McCullough.

* Kimberly “Kimmie” Jones of Brentwood, who graduated with honors, majoring in advertising with minors in art and English; A volunteer for the Muscular Dystrophy Association who uses a scooter to overcome her physical limitations, Jones was Visual Arts Editor of the MTSU arts journal Collage and has interned at McNeely, Pigott and Fox, a Nashville public relations firm. “I am so proud to be a part of something as recognizable as the READ posters,” Jones says. “I love to read, so when I was asked, I thought it was one of the coolest opportunities I have had.” She holds the book Make a Difference: America’s Guide to Volunteering and Community Service by Arthur I. Blaustein.

* Petar Skobic of Pleasant View, a native of Zagreb, Croatia, whose struggle to continue to pay for his education was the focus of a special fundraising effort by volunteers on campus; An exchange student who learned English by reading Stephen King and J.R.R. Tolkien novels, Skobic was president of MTSU’s Financial Management Association and graduated with an MBA with an emphasis on finance. Skobic now is a district manager for the Aldi supermarket chain. He holds the book Absolute Honesty: Building a Corporate Culture That Values Straight Talk by Larry Johnson and Bob Phillips.

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ATTENTION, MEDIA: For color jpegs of the READ posters, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.