The number of total points earned during at the AR Reading Center during June and July was 20,680, down from last year’s 21,966 but above the 17,839 earned in 2002. But the number of total participants was up by more than 1,000 readers, from 1,152 in 2003 to 1,282 this year.

“I think it’s catching on as a summer activity,” said Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence past president Syd Blackmarr. “I know every time I went over there, the center was just teeming with children. It’s exciting.”

Racking up the highest number of points in a friendly competition between schools was Charles Spencer, with 4,644, followed by Matt Wilson with 3,064, Tiftarea Academy with 2,882 and Eighth Street Middle School with 2,663.

Top individual student readers from each school were Courtney Cook, Annie Belle Clark, 70.4 points; Chelsea Travelyan, Charles Spencer, 131.0; Aeman Tertuliano, Eighth Street, 147.4; Taylor Whitehead, G.O. Bailey, 37.8; Onyekwere Eke, J.T. Reddick, 173.0; Haqq Tertuliano, Len Lastinger, 53.6; Megan Gibbs, Matt Wilson, 50.4; Courtney Lupo, Northeast, 51.4; Hannah Nichols, Northside, 100.0; Conor Dunn, Omega, 19.0; Angela Riveiro, Tift County High, 129.4; and Jack Wisham, Tiftarea Academy, 312.0.

Staff winners were Sandy Hudgins, Annie Belle Clark, 145.3; Terri Nalls, 304.1, Charles Spencer; Peggy Crumley, Eighth Street, 132.9; Debbie Whitehead, G.O. Bailey, 103.4; Kathy Fitzgerald, J.T. Reddick, 41.8; Heather Lindsey, Len Lastinger, 37.5; Rhonda Brewer, Matt Wilson, 353.7; Judy Baldwin, Northside, 31.4; Dee Ann Henderson, Omega, 115.6; Patti Barber, TCHS, 110.1; and Dona Sumner, Tiftarea Academy, 23.5. There was no staff winner for Northeast.

Top “friends” (parents, relatives or friends who designated points for schools) were Geni Cook, Annie Belle Clark, 80.2; Gail Hargett, Charles Spencer, 500.3; Hal Brewer, Eighth Street, 79.0; Darrell Denham, G.O. Bailey, 205.6; Jennifer Cain, J.T. Reddick, 74.4; James Gegogeine, Len Lastinger, 150.7; Gina Sumner, Matt Wilson, 301.1; Steven Brown, Northeast, 225.9; Sarah Madden, Northside, 207.1; Suzanne Smith, Omega, 90.5; Maria Bosch, TCHS, 18.8; and Donnie Rice, 151.5, Tiftarea Academy.

Local readers have been gathering AR points, which are earned by taking tests over specific books, since 1996. They passed the 2 million mark at the end of 2003.