About the Mountaineer Readers
Since 2007, participating students from the PSP's 15 districts, as well as the Appalachian State Academies at Middle Fork and Elkin and the RCOE Anderson Reading Clinic, read books of their choosing during the summer months and record their reading on a log provided by App State Athletics/RCOE. Students then submit the log into their School Library Media Coordinator the first week of school.
The RCOE processes a tally sheet from each participating school and announces the top readers in grades 1-8 in each district. These top readers and guests are typically invited to Appalachian's annual Education Day football game. This year, Mountaineer Readers were recognized for their reading achievements during Appalachian State University’s Education Day football game on November 2, 2024.
The overall top readers for 2024 are:
- From the Academy At Middle Fork:
- Grade 1: Alexa Fuentes
- Grade 2-3: Sophie Vaca
- Grade 4-5: Isaac Thompson
- From Alleghany County:
- Grade 2-3: Annemarie Harris
- Grade 4-5: Nora Harris
- Grade 6-8: Caleb Wagner
- From Alexander County:
- Grade 1: Madison Bowman
- Grade 2-3: Ace Atwood
- Grade 4-5: Kate Bowman
- Grade 6-8: Aubrey Powell
- From Ashe County
- Grade 1: Connor Keziah
- Grade 2-3: Clara Baldwin
- Grade 4-5: Sabe Douglas
- Grade 6-8: Maggie Sexton
- From Avery County:
- Grade 1: Saylor Smith
- Grade 2-3: Sawyer Stevens
- Grade 4-5: Raegan Thompson
- From Burke County:
- Grade 1: Ross Taylor
- Grade 2-3: Emily Melton
- Grade 4-5: Alexander Deal
- Grade 6-8: Michaela Hoyle
- From Caldwell County:
- Grade 1: Raelynn Potter
- Grade 2-3: Dixon Clonch
- Grade 4-5: Grayson Kennedy
- Grade 6-8: Ryan Simms
- From Catawba County:
- Grade 1: Hank Dellinger
- Grade 2-3: Jaxon Welner
- Grade 4-5: Miles Gettys
- Grade 6-8: Zoe Gates
- From Elkin City Schools:
- Grade 1: Shiloh Dancy
- Grade 2-3: Harper Richardson
- Grade 4-5: Joseph Vences
- From Newton-Conover City Schools:
- Grade 2-3: Jaxon Freeland
- Grade 4-5: Vincent Freeland
- From Watauga County:
- Grade 1: Mila Brady
- Grade 2-3: Mae Ellington
- Grade 4-5: Caleb Hawes
- Grade 6-8: Kaylee Ward
- From Wilkes County:
- Grade 1: Elliott Wehrmann
- Grade 2-3: Grayson Hodge
- Grade 4-5: Allie Hodge
- Grade 6-8: Brianna Quinones
2024 Top Schools:
- Westwood Elementary (Ashe County)
- Dudley Shoals Elementary (Caldwell County)
- Wilkesboro Elementary (Wilkes County)
- Millers Creek Elementary (Wilkes County)
- Hardin Park Elementary (Watauga County)
2024 Top Two Classrooms:
- Wanda Rutledge’s second grade classroom at Millers Creek Elementary (Wilkes County)
- Jody Davidyak’s seventh grade classroom at Jacobs Fork Middle (Catawba County)