ANCHORAGE - Thirty-eight Alaska Anchorage student-athletes participated in the 13th annual "Reading with the Seawolves" program on Friday afternoon at Turnagain Elementary School.

Coordinated by UAA associate director Dede Allen, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and staff, the program helps Seawolf student-athletes connect with local youth while encouraging reading and healthy attitudes towards exercise and school. All 11 of UAA's NCAA teams were represented at the event, either reading to kindergarten through 4th grades, or participating in recess activities with 5th and 6th graders.

"'Reading With the Seawolves' is an event that our student-athletes really look forward to every spring," Allen said. "I think it's fun for them to connect with the children and realize that they can make a direct, positive influence in their lives. We'd like to thank Turnagain for welcoming us this year and we look forward to continuing this tradition in the future."

Turnagain Elementary, located in West Anchorage, also features a Seawolf connection as first-year principal Carissa Cote' played volleyball at UAA from 1998-99.