Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 11, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Launches 2004 Governors Summer Reading Challenge in Seattle

Gov. Gary Locke today kicked off the 2004 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge at the John Stanford International School in Seattle. The Mariner Moose joined the governor to encourage students to continue reading this summer.

“Reading is the key to all academic success,” Locke told students. “I encourage you to build on what you’ve learned this year. I want each and every one of you to succeed in life, and being a good reader is the foundation of that success.”

The governor launched the challenge in Spokane on Wednesday at Michael Anderson Elementary School on Fairchild Air Force Base.

Locke started the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge in 2002 to encourage Washington students to continue reading during summer vacation and add to the reading gains they made during the school year.

The governor is encouraging all Washington state residents under the age of 18 to read 15 hours or more by Labor Day (Sept. 6). They have until Sept. 18 to report their success. Students can participate by being part of any summer reading program (library, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, etc.) or by reading on their own.

Each student who meets the challenge will receive a signed certificate from the governor and become eligible for a trip for four to Disneyland. Sponsors of this year’s challenge are Comcast, Alaska Airlines, Page Ahead and Verizon.

Students can report their summer reading adventures to the governor by logging on to www.governor.wa.gov/summerreadingchallenge or by writing to the following address: Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge, P.O. Box 40002, Olympia, WA, 98504-0002.

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