(Photo provided) The West Virginia University Mountaineer reads to and answers questions posed by children attending the Paden City Energy Express Program at Paden City Elementary School on July 14.

The West Virginia University Mountaineer read a story to children attending the Energy Express Summer Reading and Nutrition Program at Paden City Elementary.

“He read the book ‘Living Life the West Virginia Way’ by Carolyn Atkins, a copy of which was signed and gifted to the school, which covered our state symbols, our biggest universities, and how we can be upstanding West Virginian citizens,” said Jamie Daugherty, community coordinator for Energy Express.

The current Mountaineer is Cade Kincaid, a junior WVU student majoring in Accounting, who is from Fayetteville, W.Va. The event took place on July 14.

“Each child had the chance to ask questions and got their picture taken individually and as a group with the Mountaineer. Thank you, Mountaineer, for giving the children a great time,” she added.

Daugherty said the program is free for all children in grades 1-6 who attend Paden City and New Martinsville schools.

“Parents can sign their children up via forms that come around toward the end of each school year,” she said. “The children begin attending in mid-June and are finished toward the end of July each year.”

The program was also slated to hold an open house event on July 17. During the open house, Energy Express leaders planned to highlight the achievements of those involved with the program including the children, families, volunteers and staff.

Cupcakes were provided for visitors to eat while browsing the children’s activities including artwork, writing and books read.

“The WVU Extension Energy Express program began in 1994, serving thousands of children going into first through sixth grades in West Virginia for free since that time,” Daugherty said. “With the support of the WVU Center for Community Engagement and Americorps, this six-week summer reading program enhances reading comprehension skills while simultaneously providing two nutritious meals to children each day.

“Our program has proven effective in fighting the summer backslide children are challenged with in regard to their literacy as well as food insecurity.”

Across the state there are 29 sites in 22 counties.

“We use a model without grading or competition to foster growth in a fail-free environment that encourages creativity,” she said. “Rather than teachers, we refer to our group leaders as mentors, who are all local college students each in charge of one small class of children in which reading, writing, art, STEM, and drama activities are completed. At the end of each week, children receive a free book to take home.”

In addition to focusing on the children, the Paden City location also reaches out to the community.

“Community involvement is also deeply ingrained into our model. Community service projects are required of each site team each year, ensuring that we reach out to help our local community,” she said. “Our community service project this year at the Paden City Elementary School site was collecting donations for the Wetzel County Animal Shelter and walking the dogs there. Community involvement is further fostered by the open invitation for volunteers to come serve at the site in various roles such as a guest reader, like what the WVU mountaineer did, as well as daily adult and junior volunteers who do various tasks.”

The program is also helpful to staff members who are college students, serving as a scholarship of sorts.

“In short, Energy Express is important because of its wide-reaching impact on all parties involved with it; the kids here, the community surrounding us, and the people that ensure it happens. We take special care to have as big of a positive impact on Wetzel County as we can and enjoy doing it,” she said.