Continuing in 2009 . . . An Individualized Reading Scholarship Contest
for Developmental College Students For five years, TP promoted reading by conducting a nationwide reading contest for college students taking a developmental reading or writing course. In a nutshell, if students read 10 books supplied by TP, they would earn a $100 scholarship. If they read 20, $200; if they read 30, $300.
Here is how the contest worked. After students read a book, they called a toll-free number. Our contest coordinator spoke to them briefly to confirm they had read the book. They would then get another book to read, and so on.
While the contest was a success, TP had to limit the number of participating students from any one class or school, lest our coordinator be overwhelmed.
In the meanwhile, we experimented with individualized contests at two schools. In each case, a person at the school was the coordinator. That person publicized and enrolled students in the contest, gave them a first book to read, met with them briefly to confirm that they had read the book, and passed along to them a new book. That person kept a record of all participating students and how many books they had read. At the end of a semester, the coordinator sent us the names and addresses of students who had read 10 books or more. TP then sent award checks to those students.
If you are a developmental college teacher (this contest is not open to middle and high schools) who wants to be a contest coordinator for your students, here is what you need to do: 1. Read about two contests currently in operation at Reading (PA) Area Community College and Los Angeles Trade Technical College by clicking here. 2. If it is realistic to have the contest at your school, send us a short letter to the following address:
Reading Scholarship Coordinator
Townsend Press
439 Kelley Drive
West Berlin, NJ 08091
You must contact us through the mail—not through e-mail! And the person who contacts us must be the person who will be in charge of the contest.
In your note, tell us how you plan to conduct the contest, include your address and contact information, and we’ll then send you out promptly a kit that will get you started with the contest.
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