Malad Elementary and Stone Elementary were both recently the recipients of cash awards from the League of Idaho Cities for participating in the Readers Becoming Leaders program.

Readers Becoming Leaders is a program sponsored by the League of Idaho Cities that connects students to cities through reading and resources. The mission is to promote STEM learning, literacy, creative problem solving, leadership skills, and civic awareness in Idaho youth through city officials and children in an interactive storytelling environment.

Last fall, Mayor Joan Hawkins met with the three classes of third grade students at Malad Elementary and with the second and third grade classes at Stone Elementary, along with Destinie Hart from the League of Idaho Cities. The Mayor read the book “Friend City” to the students after which a discussion was held about everything that is required for a city to run properly. At Malad Elementary, Tyler Webster, Malad Superintendent, brought city equipment and held a question and answer session with the children. 

The children at both schools provided their names for a statewide drawing. Three drawings have been held so far, with four winning entries from Malad Elementary and one winning entry from Stone Elementary. At Malad Elementary, the names of Talyze Clemons, Maudee Leavitt, Leis Ashby and Gracie Nelson, students in Mrs. Langston’s class and Mr. Grote’s class, were drawn in the random drawings, earning a total of $400 for the third-grade classes. At Stone Elementary, the name of David Osequera in Mrs. Richardson’s class was drawn, earning $100 for the Stone class. There will still be at least one more drawing held, with the possibility of additional names drawn from the two schools.

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and The Idaho Stem Action Center both sponsor the activity for the League of Idaho Cities.