Midvalley Elementary fifth-grader Ayesha Abbas, who dreams of becoming a lawyer, is one step closer to her goal after earning a $1,000 Road to Success my529 scholarship—thanks to her passion for reading.

“It’s cool I won a scholarship for reading,” Ayesha said. “And now, I’m already saving up to be able to go to college. I want to study law so I can make a difference and help people.”

During the monthlong contest, Ayesha logged 2,098 minutes reading, favoring titles such as “I Survive” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.”

“I like adventure and nonfiction books and graphic novels. I like when authors express the way they feel,” she said, adding she plans to participate in the Salt Lake County Library’s summer reading challenge and continue writing a book of her own.

This was Midvalley’s first year in the Road to Success program, said School Community Facilitator Crystal Bartlett.

“We tied it into our Harry Potter literacy challenge and so many students were reading to earn points for the house cup,” she said. “It was a good launch into this scholarship program.”

By late May, 91% of Midvalley students had participated, logging a total of 333,781 reading minutes.

Ayesha was selected as the Canyons School District’s scholarship winner. Four district students—Canyon View second-grader Collin Vandermeyden, Midvalley third-grader Kareem Abdallah, Quail Hollow fifth-grader Hallie Wagstaff and Ridgecrest kindergartner Walker Cook—earned bikes.

All winners were honored at an open house at the Living Planet Aquarium.

“We want to motivate students to read daily so they earn entries into these giveaways; it makes reading fun and exciting, and helps schools build their school’s reading culture,” said Hannah Jeffs, Road to Success program manager. “It’s also an essential skill that sets students up for success for the rest of their lives. If they read at a third grade level by the end of third grade, they will be more likely to graduate high school, go to college and get into a career.”

In the past 30 months, Jeffs said the free program has increased statewide from 20 elementary schools to 80.

“We want students to develop a love of reading,” she said. “And in return, a love of learning.”λ