Reading Is Fundamental Awards STEM+Arts Competition Winners

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 04, 2014

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) today announced six winners of its Full STEAM Ahead with Books art competition. The competition, sponsored by Nestlé USA, encourages students in RIF programs to create art that expresses how books have fueled their passion for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics – or STEAM subjects. A gallery of the winning art pieces can be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rif_web/sets/72157643317180954/.

“Having children explore STEM subjects through art is one way to truly engage them in science, while encouraging their creativity,” said RIF’s President and CEO Carol H. Rasco. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity, with the support of our longtime partners at Nestlé, to help kids make that connection and get excited about STEAM.”

Honorees were judged by a panel of art educators, and were awarded in three categories, with two honorees in each category:

•K-2nd grade individual: Eric A. Chandler at Sunshine Elementary and Evan Otradovec at St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Springfield, Missouri

•3rd-5th grade group: Azlyn Fleming, Leeanne Parrot, and Vanessa Kintner Roby Elementary in Shephardsville, KY; and Emilee Clifford and Kaleigh Toy at Roby Elementary in Shephardsville, KY

•3rd-5th grade individual: Gilberto Agripino and Sonya Le at Gainesville Exploration Academy in Gainesville, Georgia

The schools these children attend will each receive $1,250 worth of books, as well as RIF’s STEAM-themed Multicultural Book Collection (http://www.rif.org/mbc). Each RIF site will also receive a cash prize for a reading celebration and recognition ceremony where the students will be awarded certificates. The competition is part of RIF’s multi-year early childhood literacy campaign to inspire the next generation of innovators through an approach integrating the arts with STEM learning. Learn more about the initiative at: http://rif.org/us/about/press/rif-launches-2014-multicultural-book-collection-featuring-40-titles-for-young-readers.htm.

About Nestlé USA
Named one of “The World’s Most Admired Food Companies” in Fortune magazine for sixteen consecutive years, Nestlé provides quality brands and products that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with LEAN CUISINE® to baking traditions with NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE®, Nestlé USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverage products that make good living possible. That’s what “Nestlé Good Food, Good Life” is all about. Nestlé USA, with 2012 sales of $10 billion, is part of Nestlé S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland — the world’s largest food company with a commitment to Nutrition, Health & Wellness — with 2012 sales of $98 billion. For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or Facebook.com/NestleUSA.

About Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)
Reading Is Fundamental delivers free books and literacy resources to children and families in underserved communities in the United States. By giving children the opportunity to own a book, RIF inspires them to become lifelong readers and achieve their full potential. As the nation’s largest children’s literacy nonprofit, RIF has placed 400 million books in the hands of more than 37 million children since it was established in 1966. Learn more and help provide books to kids who need them most, visit RIF.org.

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