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The magic of storytelling

CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 7 months AGO
by CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | June 13, 2017 3:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — Books about dinosaurs, books about wizards, books about princesses, books about cartoon characters and superheroes – each student at North Elementary School got their very own book, with the help of student-athletes from Big Bend Community College.

Big Bend athletes distributed 500 books to North students Friday afternoon. It was the second book delivery; BBCC athletes delivered 500 books to Larson Heights Elementary students May 19.

The college was participating in the “Disney Magic of Storytelling,” with partners that included Disney, KXLY, ABC and First Book. The BBCC students also ate lunch with the North kids, played with them during recess, visited classrooms and read to students, even signed a few autographs.

“It’s very exciting when you have your own book,” said North Elementary principal Kelly Frederick. “What this is doing is building home libraries for students so they’ll read over the summer.”

Easy access to books promotes reading, she said. “There is a correlation between reading, the ability to read, and how many books you have at home.”

“I think (Big Bend athletes) are good role models for the students,” said Mark Poth, BBCC athletic director. “They give a positive representation of Big Bend and what we stand for, and we love to give back to the community and help out. It’s a great cause. We support it 100 percent.”

“To have Big Bend partner with our schools is just great,” Frederick said.

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