Excitement was in the air at 12 elementary schools that recently received visits from Utah Jazz players as part of the Be a Team Player – Read contest. Students along the Wasatch Front had competed from January 25 to February 25 to see which schools could average the most minutes-read-per-child, with winners earning a Jazz player appearance and a Russell’s Ice Cream party.

Students at the schools warmly greeted Jazz players, expressing their enthusiasm in a variety of ways. C.J. Miles entered Grantsville Elementary School to the sound of students chanting cheers created just for the occasion. Kyle Korver was welcomed at Tooele Elementary School with banners and an audio-visual presentation. At Pony-Express Elementary School, students celebrated by wearing homemade Jazz hats.

During their stay, Jazz players read books aloud to students and encouraged literacy, taking time to field questions from the children, as well. Many players posed for photos and assisted with reading award presentations, while others signed school memorabilia.

Be a Team Player – Read is an annual reading contest sponsored by the Utah Jazz, Scholastic Book Fairs, Russell’s Ice Cream and StoresOnline. This season, more than 50,000 children at 79 schools read more than 29 million combined minutes during the contest. All participating schools received autographed books, a large poster to track student reading and a pair of Jazz game tickets.

The top 12 winners in this season’s reading contest are:

• Meridian School, Provo
• Middle Canyon Elementary, Tooele
• Snow Springs Elementary, Lehi
• Ridgeline Elementary, Highland
• Pony Express Elementary, Eagle Mountain
• Cherry Hill Elementary, Orem
• Mapleton Elementary, Mapleton
• Syracuse Arts Academy, Syracuse
• Northridge Elementary, Orem
• The Colby School, Park City
• Timpanogos Elementary, Provo
• Grantsville Elementary, Grantsville