School of Library and Information Science

Literacy Leaders Awards
September 13, 2007

Pictured are award winners the Honorable Lanny Littlejohn, the Honorable Gilda Cobb-Hunter,
Mrs. Rachel Hodges, Dr. Dan Barron and Mr. Tommy Preston.

The Literacy Leaders Awards were created as part of the School of Library and Information Science's Children, Libraries and Literacy Initiative.

Through the efforts of Gilda Cobb-Hunter and Lanny Littlejohn a $1.5 million appropriation was funded to helped create the endowment for the Augusta Baker Chair in childhood literacy.. Cobb-Hunter has represented her Orangeburg district since 1992. Littlejohn represents the Spartanburg area.

Rachel Hodges created her successful Reading with Rachel program in 1999 when she was first lady of South Carolina. Reading with Rachel was also a featured program on S.C. Educational Radio.

Tommy Preston is a 2007 graduate of the university. Preston created Cocky's Reading Express when he was student president and enlisted student leaders to visit elementary schools and libraries throughout the state to read and provide books to young children.

Dan Barron, who retired as director of the School of Library and Information Science in 2006, was a driving force behind the Children, Libraries and Literacy Initiative.

The reception took place at the SC State Library on Thursday, April 13, 2007.

For more photos of the event go to Literacy Award Gallery

For more in-depth coverage of the event go to http://www.sc.edu/cmcis/news/archive/0708/SLIS/literacy_awards.html