NKMS students ‘mush’ their way through Idita-Read event

Finishers in New Kent Middle School’s Idita-Read event display their certificates. In front are the two first place winners, Phoenix Grove (third from left) and Justice Tolbert (fourth from left).

Alan Chamberlain photo

Twenty-two New Kent Middle School seventh graders crossed the finish line in the school’s first Idita-Read competition that is patterned after Alaska’s famous Iditarod dog sled race.

Students had to put in 998 minutes of reading in order to finish. One minute equaled one mile of the 998-mile dog sled race.

Each student received an online account that showed the Alaskan Iditarod map and allowed the student to log in minutes of reading which translated to “miles” on the Iditarod. As students made progress, they could see where they were geographically on the trail.

Students began reading on March 2, and the contest ended last Friday. Phoenix Grove and Justice Tolbert reached the goal first, taking home Amazon.com gift cards for their effort. Both finished the first weekend after the race started.

Other finishers and those who wrote book reviews got to participate in a raffle drawing on Monday for more gift cards.

“Of course, they were rather exhausted after all that ‘mushing,’ but I’m sure they thought the gift cards were worth it,” said seventh grade teacher Sarah Hodges, who helped organize the event.

Team competition among classes also took place with Hodges’ third period class emerging on top with 554 minutes read per reader. The class wins a pizza/ice cream party, compliments of school principal Sammy Fudge.

WorldWide IDEA promotes Idita-Read, which is open to students in grades K-12. New Kent Middle opted to pilot the event in seventh grade with the help of a grant from the New Kent Educational Foundation.

Other finishers are Josh Pitts, Abigail Barber, Cullen Cade, Cameron Fazio, Jordan Hathaway, Logan Houstan, Ethan Godfrey, Jeremiah Green, Garrett Hall, Shane Short, Rachel Phelps, Erin Highsmith, Meghan Coleson, Bryanna Underwood, Justen Stewart, Haley Holland, Kyle Coles, Samm Duke, Nick Ashworth, Chase Frazier, Brandie Smith, and Ensen Jin.

Participants who did not finish but made a valiant effort to are Mia Bashore, Charles Gray, Darius Jones, Lindsey Reece, Yadasia Shelton, Michael Snead, Izabelle Addison, Katie Allison, Lamont Brandon, Chris Harris, Bailee Jenkins, Rachael Morris, Lauren Powell, Jayden Darrin, Ashby Holsapple, Eric Lucy, Jada Evans, Brooke Hughes, and Zach Simmons.