MEDIA ADVISORY
Best-selling author will speak to a gathering of about 100 middle-school students from  on the power of reading Tuesday, April 8 at ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ.
The students are participants in his , program, launched last fall, which partners faculty from ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ (through ) with students and teachers to develop both student interest in reading and their ability to critically analyze text.
Students were selected from the top 20 percent in reading proficiency and invited to attend enrichment and accelerated classes on ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ’s campus on several weekends throughout the academic year and one week during the summer.
A group of fifth- and sixth-grade students have been focused on reading short stories and learning how to convey the same messages from text through film. Seventh- and eighth-grade students participated in an intensive weekend studying their choice of either satire and parody, or medicine in literature.
Patterson is an acclaimed author and ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ alumnus (MA’70), who is dedicated to encouraging children to achieve through reading, and supporting the next generation of teachers. He founded the Patterson Scholars program at ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ in 2009, which supports 19 undergraduates studying to be teachers.
This event is not open to the public. Members of the press are invited but must RSVP. Patterson will not be available for interviews. Mult box will be provided.
Who: Best-selling author James Patterson
What: Patterson will address a gathering of Nashville middle school students who are participants in his reading program,
Where: The Wyatt Center Rotunda, at ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ , 1930 South Dr., Nashville, Tenn. Members of the press may inquire for parking assistance.
When: Tuesday, April 8, 2:05 p.m. – 3 p.m.
RSVP: Joan Brasher at joan.brasher@vanderbilt.edu or (615) 322-NEWS