Dr. Mark Porterie, Port Arthur ISD assistant superintendent, told some fired-up students at Booker T. Washington Elementary School they could be the next Barack Obama. Or a school superintendent, a firefighter, or mayor of the city if they did the following:

“Read, read and read some more. Get excited,” he said.

The Valero Port Arthur Refinery sponsored the Koalaty Kid Reading Program at the school Monday afternoon to recognize the importance of reading and its impact on academic and professional developments of the students.

“Why do you think the mayor came here today? Or the fire department that they wouldn’t be taking fire calls at this time? Or Valero wouldn’t be making any oil during these hours? The new basketball team? Because you are important. You are our future. Sit down and read,” Porterie said.

Mayor Deloris “Bobbie” Prince said many have been interested in this program for so many years and so much time devoted to do this valuable program.

“Valero values investment in young people today. Reading is extremely important. There’s not much you can do without reading. Read as much as you can and often as you can. Get friends who like to read,” Prince said.

Dr. Johnny Brown, PAISD superintendent, asked students to raise their hands if they watched television every day. All hands went up. He then asked how many read every day and every night. About a third of the hands went up.

“Let me give you a tip. To be successful in anything, you need to develop a habit of reading every day. I read every day and every night, so I encourage you to read every day,” Brown said.

In addition to the lineup of speakers, Bill Leger of Channel 6 and Deedra Wilson of Channel 12 emceed the event. The Southeast Texas Mustangs made an appearance and played some basketball with the students along with the Jazz Innovators providing background music . Also, Dowling Elementary Principal Dwight Wagner sang, plus, there was a visit from the Koalady Kid Bear.

Students who achieve in reading can earn gift cards, basketball tickets and other goodies.

Roosevelt Petry of GP Industrial and Reading Book Sponsor told the audience if anyone wanted to own a business one day, they have to know how to read — even if it’s beginning with comic books or the newspaper.

“How many of y’all want to drive a car one day?” Petry asked as all hands went up. “To drive a car you have to know how to read.”

Kenneth Pleasant, marketing and sales director for the Mustangs said reading was a fundamental tool the students could use the rest of their lives.

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