Gwinnett County Readers Rally Brings Out Thousands

It was a day of cheering for reading.

Activity echoed from classroom to classroom. Buzzer sounds were heard over and over again. Question after question was answered. Sweat-popping challenge after sweat-popping challenge was completed.

When it was all over at Saturday’s 2011 Gwinnett County Readers Rally at Berkmar High School, eight teams won their respective grade divisions: Berkmar and Mill Creek high schools, Osborne and Sweetwater middle schools, and Minor, Chesney, Craig and Jackson elementary schools.

An estimated 3,000 people — parents, sisters and brothers, friends and teachers, administrators, clubs, volunteers and other folk —poured into the Berkmar auditorium Saturday for the quiz bowl-style competition, during which students answered questions about the books they have read.  

“This is the biggest year of Reader’s Rally yet,” shouted Melinda O’Herron, one of the event’s emcees, along with Jennifer Pahl and Suzanne Skeen.

On the day, 96 teams representing 60 elementary schools, 23 middle schools and 13 high schools arrived to participate in the competition. 

Each winning team received a trophy, with every member receiving a medal and a $10 scholastic gift certificate. The winning teams will now move on to the final round championship later this week.

The runners-up were Brookwood and Grayson high schools, Creekland and Trickum middle schools, and Parson, Ivy Creek, Arcado and Gwin Oaks elementary schools.

Teams that did not place received certificates of participation.

It took 120 judges to facilitate the event. Teams were asked a preselected list of questions related to 20 chosen books. Each team consisted of up to 10 members.

There were 10 questions in five to seven rounds. Once a question was asked, and a player hit the buzzer, he or she had 10 seconds to answer. Challenges were made as another team attempted to answer another team’s question. Teams were allowed two challenges per round.

After the winners were announced in separate locations for each school level, students and coaches had a whole lot to say.

Alex Martin, a member of the Minor Elementary team, said, “The competition was kind of hard. Some of the people challenged too much."

“We won last year at the board,” said Shad Huda, a member of Sweetwater’s Readers Rally team, with a confident expression upon his face. “We read and write questions from the book and turn them in.”

“It was pretty competitive. They knew a lot of questions, but we knew more,” added Shafaat Huda, Shad Huda’s younger brother, who also was on the Sweetwater team.

Winnifer Cox, was in attendance to support her daughter, Sarah Cox, a member of Hull Middle School’s readers, “It’s a big deal. We’ve been coming since 3rd grade. Reading is what we do as a family. They enjoy it.”

Dennis Peagler, coach for Berkmar High’s team, was ready to go on to the finals again after her team had won last year. “They work hard. They really deserve it,” she said of her students.

“We have the world’s best coach,” said Ashleigh Kuhns, member of the Berkmar High team, pointing to her T-shirt that read, “Marking our way to the top, one book at a time.” 

“I’m excited, amazed and proud,” said Thanh Dam with a huge grin. Her daughter is a member of the Mill Creek High team.

The winners from each school level division will face off to win the championship Thursday, Feb. 17, at Gwinnett County TV Broadcast Center, located at the GCPS Instructional Support Center. The match will be televised Tuesday, Feb. 22, through Sunday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on GCPS TV.