UW-Stout: Student groups donate 30 new books to Downsville school

For details, contact:
Jerry Poling
Assistant Director of Communications
715-232-2384
polingj@uwstout.edu

Menomonie, Wis. — Children at the elementary school in Downsville have 30 new books,
thanks to two student groups at University of Wisconsin-Stout.

“The Day the Crayons Quit” along with “Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues” and “Diary of a
Wimpy Kid” series were some of the books donated recently.

For the last four years, student chapters of the Wisconsin Education Association and the
National Association for the Education of Young Children have held the Scholastic Book Fair
on campus, with proceeds being used to buy books for an area school.

This year, sales from the book fair allowed the groups to buy $434 worth of books from
Scholastic.

The books purchased were based on teachers’ wish lists, according to Mariah Hinz, the book
fair organizer.

“This is a good way to give back to the schools because it is exciting for both the teacher and
the students. Literacy is a huge part of the education world and not all students have the
variety and selection at home like they do at school,” said Hinz, a sophomore from Waunakee.

“Presenting the schools with new books gives more literacy opportunities for the teachers as
well as the students. Plus, who doesn’t love a new book?” Hinz added.

Hinz is majoring in early childhood education. Approximately 43 students helped with the
book fair, which was held in December.

UW-Stout students delivered the books to the school, south of Menomonie, and presented them to the teachers.

“The teachers were all extremely appreciative of our donation. There were a lot of thank yous
and excited faces when they were able to take a look at all of their new books. It was a very
humbling experience to be a part of,” Hinz said.