Wilmington University cheerleaders help kickoff reading challenge at Olive B. Loss

    Olive B. Loss Elementary School launched their “Hats Off to Reading” challenge on Jan. 16 with a special assembly for first graders. Guests from the Wilmington University cheerleading team and their mascot, Wilco, kicked off the event with death-defying stunts and tumbling set to music.
    Principal Lorraine Lybarger read the story of “Rotten Ralph” by award-winning children’s author Jack Gantos. While she was narrating the tale, cheerleaders acted out the parts, bringing the book to life for the school’s youngest readers.
    Afterward, students were challenged to read 40 books each. To inspire them, Wilmington University performed an “R.E.A.D.” cheer developed specially for that morning. Within minutes, the entire building was rocking. The grand finale included a human cheerleading “tunnel” that students jogged through while receiving high five of encouragement.