- Overall Winner: Delia Sigler, 11th grader, Tipton Rosemark Academy
- High School Winner: Brextyn Poetzel, ninth-grade homeschooler, Farragut
- Middle School Winner: Kristav Parajuli, fifth grader, Warren County Schools
- Elementary Winner: Noah Little, kindergarten homeschooler, East Knoxville
Overall Winner: Delia Sigler, 11th grader, Tipton Rosemark Academy¶
High School: Poetzel Reads Past Midnight¶
Poetzel logged 26,613 minutes, crediting late-night reading sessions and full-day binges for his success.¶
“It means a lot for me to win,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed reading, and it feels amazing to get recognized for the amount of time I spend reading.”¶
His favorite summer read was Watchmen, which he described as “a superhero mystery book with tons of bloodshed and a touch of sci-fi,” alongside the Eragon fantasy series.¶
High School Winner: Brextyn Poetzel, ninth-grade homeschooler, Farragut¶
Middle School: Parajuli Plans Daily Goals¶
Parajuli tallied 23,646 minutes and emphasized strategy and consistency.¶
“I planned how much to read each day, and sometimes I ended up reading for as long as 8 hours,” he said.¶
His favorite book of the summer was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for its “twists, surprises, and secrets.”¶
Middle School Winner: Kristav Parajuli, fifth grader, Warren County Schools¶
Elementary: Little Finds Magic in Disney-Inspired Reads¶
Little, the youngest winner at just 5 years old, read 16,171 minutes.¶
“I’m so excited! I’ve never won a contest before,” she said. “I like to read all day and I listen to books in the car!”¶
She favored the Horsetail Hollow series, where “it is so much fun to see the characters meet Disney princesses.”¶
Elementary Winner: Noah Little, kindergarten homeschooler, East Knoxville¶
Promoting Literacy Across Tennessee¶
Launched in 2016, Tristar Reads encourages Tennessee students entering grades K-12 to read at least 20 minutes a day during summer break. This year, Atmos Energy and Vooks partnered with the program to provide free one-year subscriptions to hundreds of digital books¶
“We're proud of each participant in Tristar Reads for stepping up to the challenge,” said TSS President and CEO Lana Skelo. “Reading is a foundational part of every child's academic journey, and studies show it can truly make a difference during the summer break when too many students experience an academic slide.”¶
Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony later this month.¶
