USC’s Cocky challenges York, Rock Hill students: Read a book a day

As college football teams from both Carolinas prepared to clash in Thursday’s season opener, USC’s Cocky asked students at two York County schools to take on a challenge of the mind.

Cocky’s Reading Express, the University of South Carolina’s mascot-led literacy program, made a surprise visit to students at Cotton Belt Elementary in York and Independence Elementary in Rock Hill.

Cocky asked for a promise from several hundred Cotton Belt students who gathered in the media center to listen to stories: Read a book every day.

Before he left, each student received a book and had a chance to high-five the feathered mascot.

“Gamecocks love sports, but we also love to read and promote literacy,” said Christine Shelek, coordinator of Cocky’s Reading Express.

The program, paid for by gifts and grants, targets students in prekindergarten to second grade, Shelek said, primarily at schools with a higher percentage of low-income students.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Cocky’s Reading Express, which has visited schools in every South Carolina county. In that time, Shelek said, the program has distributed more than 92,000 books to students.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 3:29 PM with the headline "USC’s Cocky challenges York, Rock Hill students: Read a book a day."