The Big Tree Elementary School Parent Teacher Association held its Second Annual Celebration of Reading program on March 5th and for the second year in-a-row Hilbert College head men's basketball coach Rob deGrandpre participated as a guest in Colleen Vail's first-grade classroom. 

The Celebration of Reading program aims to promote literacy through the Pick-a-Reading Partner initiative.  Celebrity Readers were paired with a classroom teachers in an effort to raise career awareness amongst elementary students.    
 
deGrandpre spoke to students about his path to the collegiate coaching profession, and read a book to the class titled Be A Good Teammate – a children's book that teaches kids the importance of teamwork and the three undisputable characteristics of good teammates. Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen.
 
Be a Good Teammate was written and illustrated by former Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference and Mount Aloysius College basketball coach Lance Loya.  The story passes on meaningful life advice and explains the belief that everybody is part of a team in some capacity, and you don't have to play sports to be on a team. 

"I'm happy to help carry the torch for Coach Loya's be a good teammate initiative", said deGrandpre.  "His message is incredibly important to athletes of all ages, and for all levels of sport in general".

In keeping with the morning's good teammate theme, deGrandpre participated in Mrs. Vail's "Dr.Seuss Week" – with an additional classroom reading of Seuss's, The Cat In The Hat Comes Back.