Jacksonville – The Fighting Highlanders were not on the football field Wednesday but in the classroom to do their part to encourage students to read.

     MacMurray College’s football team is participating in a reading program again this year at local Jacksonville schools. The program, begun in the early 1990’s by the College, was resurrected a few years ago by current football head coach Brandon McCray.

      “I decided we needed to get the program up and running again to give something back to the kids, and the Jacksonville community,” said Coach McCray.

     Several players on the team attended a reading Wednesday, September 1st, at Franklin Elementary School in Jacksonville, visiting classrooms of 1st and 2nd graders.

     The football players will be visiting every elementary school in Jacksonville’s School District 117 through the entire football season. Readings are scheduled twice a month with the next one at Franklin Elementary School on Wednesday, September 14th.

     “We do this for the joy of the kids. The kids just light up when they see our MacMurray College football players step into the room,“ he said. “A lot of kids need positive role models in their lives.”

     The players visited several classrooms in the morning, visiting with 1st and 2nd graders and reading selections from popular children’s books including: “The Big Orange Splot” by Daniel Manus Pinkwater, “Travels of Dr. Dolittle” by Hugh Lofing, and “Bigmama’s” by Donald Crews.

     Participating players included: right back Peter Ereg (#22), a senior history major from East Lansing, MI; defensive back Jeff Gaston (#26), a senior sport management major from Park Forest, IL; and line backer Larry Pirollo (#9), a sophomore business administration and sport management major from Lake Mary, FL. Head Football Coach Brandon McCray and Defensive Line Coach Tracey Ambrose also were present.

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     Located in Jacksonville, Ill., MacMurray College is a private, four-year, liberal arts, coeducational college, founded in 1846, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Its friendly, informal environment stresses academic excellence, personal attention, career experience, and well-rounded development of each individual.