The Boys and Girls Club of West Georgia in LaGrange celebrated the accomplishments of their Rock Star Readers. Twenty students were recognized for completing the club’s reading program that was sponsored by Dollar General and Target.

The program featured student recognitions, two student plays and refreshments for all of the children. Program instructor Markette Hambrick gave welcoming remarks and student Niyauna Bridges read the program’s mission statement. The program was attended by the readers’ families and club members.

Boys and Girls Club’s chief professional officer Bart McFadden along with program manager Stephanie Chambliss assisted Hambrick giving out certificates to all of the individuals who had completed the reading program. In addition, certificates were given to students who had perfect attendance and to those who had exceeded the number of books that they were to read at home.

“All of the graduates of the Rock Star Reader program have increased their reading skills and have developed a greater appreciation for reading in general,” Hambrick said. “I am so thrilled to have been able to work with these great kids.”

Kristy Dunlap was given a certificate for graduating from the program and an additional one for reading so many books on her own at home. Dunlap also had parts in both of the plays.

Dunlap’s father and mother, Clarence and Vivian Harris, her grandfather and grandmother, Walter and Ernestine Dowell and her aunt, Lillie McCauley were all in attendance to cheer her on.

“She (Dunlap) invited all of us to come today. I am the aunt who she always wants to come to see her. We’re always here to support her, no matter what,” McCauley said.

The plays were about the three little pigs, but both of them had a few twists from the original tale. Hambrick read from the two different books as the children acted out the stories.

McFadden commented on the importance of finding the right people to work with the children at the Boys and Girls Club and made specific mention of Hambrick’s efforts.

“Markette is the epitome of who we want to work with these kids. She is young and is actively involved in pursuing her degree in the educational field, she has access to the newest educational methods,” McFadden said. “The kids respond very well to her.”

Before the children were invited to enjoy their refreshments, McFadden thanked the families for coming to the program and for encouraging their children to read each day. He also acknowledged the roles that Dollar General, LaGrange College, Target and United Way have in providing this and other programs for the club.