Koo and the Mets champion literacy in Flushing

Councilmember Peter Koo (back row, center) presented the 10th Annual Readers Are Leaders Challenge awards to seven Queens third-graders. Photo courtesy of Koo’s Office.

By David Brand

Councilmember Peter Koo joined the New York Mets on Monday to honor third-grade readers from several Central Queens elementary schools.

The 10th Annual Readers Are Leaders Challenge recognized seven students who read an age-appropriate book and wrote a creative report about the text. One child from each school was selected to receive a $50 gift card, tickets to a Mets game and a New York City Certificate of Recognition.

The winners are included Savita Maharjan from PS 163, Vivian Dong from PS 120, Isabella Cai from PS 244, Andrea Liu from PS 214, Jonah Negron from PS 24, Luis Flores from PS 20 and Mio Xu from PS 22.

“Every year, the book reports submitted to my office for our Readers are Leaders challenge show a firm grasp of reading comprehension, creativity, and a pure love for reading and writing,” Koo said. “Too often we read about the failures of our education system, but as I read the many reports submitted to my office, I was reassured that our students are receiving a world class education in our public schools.”