For immediate release: November 5, 2024
Douglas County Libraries and the DCL Foundation presented cash awards to four Douglas County schools and local nonprofit HawkQuest as part of DCL’s 2024 Flock to the Library summer reading program. Larkspur Elementary School, Mountain Ridge Middle School, ThunderRidge High School, and Renaissance Secondary School each earned $500 for securing the most summer reading signups per school level in the program’s school contest. HawkQuest was awarded $1,000 as the nonprofit recipient of the community reading goal.
School contest signups were tallied via DCL’s Beanstack online registration app. The school in each category with the most signups as a percentage of 2023-2024 enrollment earned the award.
“We’re thrilled to reward these schools for their commitment to reading and literacy. They have so much enthusiasm,” said DCL Special Events Supervisor Kristen Kallio. “The bonus is, that enthusiasm helped get us to and beyond our community reading goal, which benefits a wonderful nonprofit partner,” she said.
Gratitude toward teachers for supporting summer reading efforts was a recurring theme among the winning schools.
During the spring, Larkspur Elementary hosted a STEAM literacy event where Librarian Amie Shaffner and school staff hyped up all the reading programs available for summer, including DCL’s.
“The prize we received from the Foundation will be used to purchase new books. I talked to students so they would have a voice in some of the books chosen, and they were so excited,” she said. She also shouted out the students’ parents and their dedication to their children’s reading.
At Mountain Ridge Middle School, Librarian Alicia D’Antonio credits classroom teachers for spreading the word about summer reading. “This award would not be possible without their partnership,” she said, adding that the prize money will be used for library updates that make it easier for students to independently search for library materials, as well as new books. “There’s always room for more great books,” said D’Antonio.
Librarian Kelly Shumaker said the teachers at Renaissance Secondary School thoughtfully curated a list of recommended books based on their personal favorites to inspire participation. “This honor truly belongs to them,” she said, adding that teachers are eager to continue putting exciting and timely books in students’ hands and are also looking forward to launching individual research projects with the prize money.
“It’s wonderful to see how eager students are to join [summer reading], especially with such fond memories from past years,” said Stephanie Sjoland, Teacher Librarian at ThunderRidge High School, winner in the high school category for the third time.
“We’re incredibly grateful to both DCL and the Douglas County Libraries Foundation for supporting our schools through this initiative, as well as the many teachers who support our efforts to get students signed up,” said Sjoland.
Readers of all ages are encouraged to participate in summer reading and the community reading challenge, which benefits a local nonprofit if the reading goal is met. This year, participants exceeded the goal of 9.5 million minutes read by over a million minutes, benefiting HawkQuest in Parker.
HawkQuest is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make education both meaningful and fun, while creating an atmosphere that fosters respect for the land and for the stewardship of all living things. According to Executive Director Kin Quitugua, the organization presented at 850 educational events last year and saw a million people.
“All of our prize money is going for bird food. This donation really helps,” Quitugua said.
Summer reading will return in June 2025, along with the school contest and community reading challenge.
To learn more about the Douglas County Libraries Foundation, visit DCL.org/foundation.
Douglas County Libraries elevates our community by inspiring a love of reading, discovery and connection.
Larkspur Elementary Librarian Amie Shaffner gave a shoutout to her students’ parents for their dedication to their children’s reading and taking them to the public library.
Alicia D’Antonio said she’s a very lucky librarian to have support from Mountain Ridge Middle School teachers, who are vital to getting the word out about summer reading.
HawkQuest Executive Director Kin Quitugua said the donation from the DCL Foundation will help the organization feed and care for its 31 raptors.
Renaissance Secondary School Librarian Kelly Shumaker said that seeing students read for pure enjoyment or to satisfy their curiosity is the best reward.
ThunderRidge Teacher Librarian Stephanie Sjoland said their prize will go toward savings for cozy new library furniture and adding more books that students love to their collection.
