SB elementary school celebrates “millionaire” students for reading commitment

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Students up and down the coast are celebrating their hard work at the end of a turbulent, pandemic-modified school year. Some are getting extra recognition.

On the final day of the school year at Santa Barbara's Harding Elementary School, the school's top readers got to celebrate, including 21 second to sixth grade "millionaires" who read at least one million words over the past year.

The exact number of words for each student is calculated by an Accelerated Reader program, which quizzes students on reading comprehension after they finish a book.

“It is kind of a rite of passage and bragging rights for the kids at our school,” principal Veronica Binkley said. “It’s a huge accomplishment.”

Binkley cites research that suggests those who read at least a million words a year are much more likely to excel near the top of their class going forward.

“Reading really is the key to success,” she said. “And if you can get kids hooked in elementary school—through incentives or whatever it takes—you’re just setting them up for success, which is inevitably why we are all here.”

The 21 "millionaires" got trophies, a gift bag from the Santa Barbara Library, as well as a limo ride to lunch at Longboard's Grill on Stearns Wharf.

Some of them used books as a way to find an escape or spend extra downtime during the pandemic.

“I would just sit down and open a book and just read it,” said “millionaire” Rachel Errea, who like most of the other top readers lost track of how many books she finished this school year.

“I feel proud of myself,” said Joan Villafana, who reached the million milestone for a third time. “I just like, like reading so like, I won’t stop. Sometimes I’ll tell myself to just keep going.”