It has been more than seven months since we announced the Danville Community College Literacy Project titled ‘Ace the Mighty Conquers Knight School’ at the Danville Pittsylvania County Morning Brew Event last July.
What began as an idea to increase our outreach and program offerings in the K-12 space, quickly evolved into a beautifully illustrated children’s book that features my dog, Ace, and his harrowing journey to become a knight, despite many disadvantages, obstacles, and setbacks.
With education announced as the number one priority of the City of Danville, DCC rose to the occasion by developing a comprehensive literacy program around ‘Ace the Mighty’ for children in 2nd – 4th grade. By emphasizing grit, determination, and persistence through this exciting story, we have been able to deliver the important message of “trying your best and never giving up” to children across Southside Virginia.
The program consists of 30 action-packed minutes of reading, learning Ace's Three Rules (Reading is Fun , Try Your Best - Never Give Up, Always Be Kind), recognition for exceptional students through our interaction with their teachers, trivia, prizes, and, of course, head-pats for Ace on the way back to class.
As we depart each school, each student receives a commemorative 'Ace the Mighty' button pin and bookmark, as well as the opportunity to participate in our 'Ace the Mighty' Coloring Contest.
Through the power of storytelling, we've been able to transport local children to far-off lands, introduce them to unforgettable characters, and instill in them the joy of discovering new worlds through literature.
Since then, the project has taken on a life of its own and I am happy to share the incredible success of the ‘Ace the Mighty’ Book Tour. Co-author Faith O’Neil, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, and I have visited 22 elementary schools across three localities (City of Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Halifax County) impacting approximately 2300 2nd-4th graders.
Beyond the numbers, the real magic of the 'Ace the Mighty' Book Tour lies in the connections forged between our institution and the elementary schools we visited.
We've witnessed the sparkle in children's eyes as they eagerly listened to tales of adventure and courage. We've seen teachers inspired to incorporate more reading activities into their classrooms, and parents encouraged to spend more quality time reading with their children at home.
As the President of Danville Community College, I am immensely proud of the efforts and outcomes of this initiative, which has touched the lives of thousands of young learners in our city and neighboring counties.
Now, as we conclude our 'Ace the Mighty' Book Tour, we've been gearing up to select a coloring contest winner from every school we've visited, and we're returning with pizza and swag for each winner and their class!
The success of this initiative would not have been possible without the enthusiastic support of our local public school systems and community partners. Together, we've shown that when we come together with a shared vision and a commitment to education, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of our youth.
As we reflect on the accomplishments of the 'Ace the Mighty' Book Tour, let us also look to the future with optimism and determination. Let us continue to prioritize literacy and education as fundamental pillars of our community. Let us continue to inspire a love of reading in the hearts of our children, knowing that the seeds we plant today will blossom into a brighter tomorrow.
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