Tristar Reads contest encourages students to spend their summer break with a book

Stock photo of a book (Photo by Pexels)

Last summer Rutherford County teen Taylor Aslup took advantage of every opportunity to read.

Taylor Aslup standing outside (Photo by Taylor Aslup)

Aslup balanced work and cheerleading while still finding time to spend more than 31 thousand minutes reading books she frequently downloaded on her phone. That devotion to reading helped her earn a $1,000 scholarship as the overall winner in the annual Tristar Reads contest.

“I enjoy that while I read, I am able to experience something new. I was busy often this summer, with work and cheer, so reading gave me the break I needed. When I needed something happy, I could look to what I was reading to find it,” said Aslup. “I just want to thank Tristar Reads for allowing me to take an activity I love to do and use it to benefit my future.”

Education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success created the reading contest to help prevent the annual “summer slide” many students experience during the summer break and to help them stay on track for the upcoming school year.  Last year participants across the state, including Aslup, spent more than a million minutes reading.

Tennesseans for Student Success is hoping to see a similar response when Tristar Reads begins later this month. The contest runs from May 28 through August 4.

“Reading is a challenge for far too many children in our state and the summer months spent at home often create a ‘summer slide’ for them to climb out of during the fall semester,” said TSS President and CEO Lana Skelo. “We created Tristar Reads to help prevent summer academic losses with a fun contest that empowers children to keep their reading comprehension skills sharp. We’ve been amazed at the response we’ve received from Tristar Reads participants each year and are excited to see those pages turning once again.”

The Tennessee Firefly is a product of and supported by Tennesseans for Student Success.

wishing to participate can register online at any time and agree to track their minutes and the books they read.  Four students will receive a $1,000 scholarship for reading the most in the elementary school student (k-4) category, middle school student (5-8) category, high school student (9-12) category, and the overall winner.