Jan. 19, 2010

LAS VEGAS - UNLV Athletics, together with the Clark County School District Partnership Office, Spread the Word Nevada: Kids to Kids and Cash America SuperPawn, is launching the Rebel Reading Challenge, a 30-day program to promote reading and literacy at eight at-risk elementary schools. The campaign is being launched with assemblies for all third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students at participating schools beginning with two at local schools Tuesday.

The assemblies will feature speeches from UNLV student-athletes, trivia questions, prizes and a 10-minute story time. Cash America SuperPawn will be providing books for students to take home following the assemblies. Today's first assemblies will take place at Sunrise Acres Elementary School and Paradise Elementary School. On Wednesday assemblies will be held at Rex Bell Elementary School and Elaine Wynn Elementary School, and on Friday assemblies will be at Robert Taylor Elementary School, Whitney Elementary School, Jay Jeffers Elementary School and CP Squires Elementary School.

Nearly 30 Rebel student-athletes from nine of UNLV's 17 sports will participate in the assemblies this week.

The competition will conclude on Feb. 23.From the eight participating schools, the one class that reads the most will receive tickets and transportation to the UNLV men's basketball team's final home game on March 6, two concession food vouchers per student and a $250 VISA gift card for the winning classroom teacher. Additionally, the two top readers from each school will be rewarded.

WHEN:   Rebel Reading Challenge: January 23 - February 23        Kick-Off Assemblies - January 19, 20 and 22
WHO:    UNLV Student-Athletes        Hey Reb!        Chet Buchanan, local radio personality and UNLV Men's Basketball game host
WHERE:  Assembly Locations/Times:        Tuesday, January 19:        • Sunrise Acres Elementary School, 211 28th St. - 1:00 PM        • Paradise Elementary School, 900 Cottage Grove - 2:15 PM        Wednesday, January 20:        • Rex Bell Elementary School, 2900 Wilmington Way - 1:15 PM        • Elaine Wynn Elementary School, 5655 Edna - 2:15 PM        Friday, January 22:        • Robert Taylor Elementary School, 144 Westminster Way - 8:30 AM        • Whitney Elementary School, 5005 Keenan Ave. - 10:00 AM        • Jay Jeffers Elementary School, 2320 Clifford St. - 1:15 PM        • CP Squires Elementary School, 1312 Tonopah Ave. - 2:15 PM