Student Rewards

The Nets Student Rewards Program, presented by the U.S. Army, rewards students for their outstanding achievements in school. Four hundred schools participated in the program and over 80,000 students were recognized for their grades, attendance, compliance with school rules and community service.

Read to Achieve

Read to Achieve is the NBA’s year-round campaign to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year, Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports. The Nets Read to Achieve program includes various events such as reading time-outs, player appearances, school visits, and book drives. Throughout the season, the Nets All-Star reading team visited schools and libraries to emphasize the importance of reading and receiving an education. The Nets All-Star reading team consists of New Jersey Nets players, coaches, management, Nets dancers and Sly.

Read to Achieve is presented by William the Garbage Truck and Crew. To learn more visit WilliamTheGarbageTruck.com

NYMEX Slam Dunk Reading Challenge and Fast Break for Books

These programs encourage fourth, fifth and sixth graders to read outside of their regular schoolwork. As part of the program, teachers are required to track the amount of time their students spent reading. Students who completed the requirements by the deadline received two (2) tickets to a Nets game.

Sly’s Summer Reading

The Nets teamed up with the New Jersey Library Association to sponsor summer reading clubs during the summer. Any child that signed up with their participating library had the opportunity to win tickets to a Nets game. In addition, Sly visited many of the reading clubs that participated in the program.

Merrill Lynch and Richard Jefferson Investment Challenge

This ten week program, which will take place in the Newark and Jersey City school systems, teaches high school seniors about the benefits of fiscal literacy. The participating students will play the “Stock Market Game” in which each student will be given the ability to invest $100,000 in a mock stock market portfolio. Five winners will each receive autographed merchandise and a Merrill Lynch summer internship.

Job Shadow Program

Once a month during the school year, Centenary College facilitates high school students in job shadowing a Nets employee for a day. The students visit the Nets offices, meet with different departments within the business and then attend a Nets home game.

Newspapers in Education (NIE)

The Nets have joined forces with the Newark Star Ledger to bring students the Newspaper in Education (NIE) Program. The program is designed to inspire youth to find the fun and usefulness in reading the newspaper by providing lesson plans for teachers to use in class to help enhance critical thinking. To reward students for their classroom accomplishments, 17 students are chosen by their teachers and have the opportunity to interview a Nets player after a Nets practice and have their article published in the Star Ledger.