J.K. Britt and Berlynne Delamora sat in blue plastic chairs, each holding a book in their hands.
Fourth graders from Estes Hills Elementary School were scattered around the classroom, sitting three kids at each table. As the senior safety and junior third baseman read their respective books, the students leaned in more, hanging onto each word.
On Wednesday, North Carolina athletes participated in the annual Read Like a Champion Day, partnering with Duke Energy. Throughout the day, student-athletes read to a total of 41 classrooms at 11 different elementary schools across Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Durham.
The Tar Heels ended up reading to over 900 children.
“I think it’s very important because we’re role models in the community,” Britt said. “They’re either looking up to us or they’re looking up to someone else who isn’t doing the right thing in the community. For us to get out there, reach out to them and just show them the ropes to the right things to do, I think is really big.”
Britt chose to make an impact with his story, selecting a book that would teach an important lesson to the fourth graders.
“The book that I read was about Roy Riegels,” Britt said, “and it was about a football player who ran the wrong way.”
As he read "The Day Roy Riegels Ran the Wrong Way," by Dan Gutman, Britt turned and showed each illustration to the children. At the end, the senior asked the kids what they learned. A sea of small hands waved in the air, hoping the UNC football player would call on them. Each answer varied, but all had the same underlying message.
“The moral of the story was you’re going to make mistakes in life, but it’s about how you respond to those mistakes," Britt said. "I really thought it was a good message for the kids.”
