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PIC gives $5,000 to Hopwood reading program
Students, teachers, and vice principal Epi Cabrera from the Hopwood Jr. High School are presented with an ETC donation of $5,000 from the Pacific Islands Club Saipan executive administrative assistant Vicky Benavente, center. (Contributed Photo)
Students in grades 7 and 8 have read millions of words this school year, taking part in a program that encourages reading as a means to further develop communication skills, encourage self-confidence, and increase levels of comprehension for all classroom subjects.
Pacific Islands Club executive administrative assistant Vicky Benavente presented the Hopwood Jr. High School with a check for $5,000 representing the annual Education Tax Credit, as an incentive to continue with the reading program at the school.
Language Arts class instructor Linda Birmingham Babauta said, “It’s not easy to get students at this age to give up their social life and read, but I’m a firm believer that reading empowers, so I push them to read, read, read, and read some more. This year our students have stepped up and read millions and millions of words. I am so proud of them.”
Hopwood vice principal Epi Cabrera stated, “The Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood Jr. High School is truly appreciative of the $5,000 Educational Tax Credit contribution made by the Pacific Islands Club today. PIC continues to be a life-long community partner in educating the lives of our students and community at large, especially as they support literacy and reading. A large part of the contribution will be used as incentives for our students that have read over million-plus words and for those that have read the most books in a team—this equates to over 300-plus students. This contribution will surely boost student morale and love of reading across our campus. Thank you again PIC for your generous support and for valuing the importance of literacy in our community.”
