Longview Elementary sixth-grader Carolyn Nelson, who dreams of becoming an orthodontist, is now one step closer after earning a $1,000 Road to Success my529 scholarship thanks to her love of reading.

“I was surprised when our librarian (Leanne Burt) and Ms.(Becky) Teo (interim principal) came into the classroom with a fancy red card with gold on it and a balloon and announced my name,” Carolyn said. 

During the month-long spring contest, she logged about 6,400 minutes. A fan of Jennifer Nielsen’s historical fiction, Carolyn recommends “A Night Divided” and plans to read more Nielsen books and “When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary” this summer.

“I’m reading books I like now because I’ll have 11 years of reading textbooks in college to be an orthodontist. I’m hoping to get it done faster by taking college classes in high school if I can and it doesn’t cost as much if I do it that way,” she said.

Carolyn was chosen as the Murray School District’s scholarship winner. Two District students— sixth-grader Cali Strong from Viewmont Elementary and fifth-grader Julian Lopez from Longview—earned bikes.

All winners were honored at an open house at the Living Planet Aquarium.

“We want to motivate students to read daily so they earn entries into these giveaways; it makes reading fun and exciting, and help schools build their school's reading culture,” said Hannah Jeffs, Road to Success program manager. “It’s also an essential skill that sets students up for success for the rest of their lives. If they read at a third grade level by the end of third grade, they will be more likely to graduate high school, go to college and get into a career.”

In the past 30 months, Jeffs said the free program has increased statewide from 20 elementary schools to 80.

“We want students to develop a love of reading and in return, a love of learning,” she said.

Cali, who read nearly 77 hours, enjoyed reading the “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” series, “I am Malala” and “Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World,” but she wasn’t always a book lover.

“When I was in third grade, I didn’t read much; I didn’t like it,” she said. “Now, I really like getting lost in a good book, especially if there’s a cool, fierce character. I’ve never been a great reader, but now I’m proud of myself and really grateful.”

Cali has plans to take her new bike when visiting her grandmother this summer. “There are a lot of good bike trails there. I like the wind in my face when I ride; it’s thrilling.”

Librarian Emilee Barnett highlighted student Max Nelsen who logged the most hours at Viewmont: 247.73.

At Longview, Julian read “Harry Potter,” “Dog Man” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books, totaling 2,000 minutes.

“I like reading to learn things from books—different ideas, different things about life,” he said. “I'm surprised I won. They hung a big banner with my name on it in the hallway.”

Julian, who often reads to his 5-year-old brother, is happy to have a bike of his own. 

“I want to teach my younger brother and sister how to ride one day so we can ride together,” he said.

That is when Julian isn’t reading, his mother, Gabriella, said.

“Julian always reads at school; he always reads at home,” she said. “He loves reading.”