PEMBROKE – Athletics department officials at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke announced Monday that UNCP has partnered with Pembroke Elementary School to launch Braves Buddies – a program designed to encourage and inspire reading at a young age, as well as to facilitate mentorship opportunities for the second grade students with UNCP's more than 400 student-athletes.

The year-long program, which is in its inaugural season, was organized by Pembroke Elementary School Principal Tona Jacobs, as well as UNCP Senior Woman Administrator Jenna Davisson.

"This program has been two years in the making," said UNCP Director of Athletics Dick Christy. "As always, I'm very thankful for my wife, Windy, who crafted the original proposal to begin this partnership and has supported our efforts along the way. At Pembroke Elementary, we have a unique opportunity to engage with local students at an early age, and try to share life skills that will prepare them for their future.

"For the University, it is a huge asset to our future that each week of the school year Braves Athletics will have a consistent presence in the elementary school and in the consciousness of our youth. I want to thank Tona Jacobs and Jenna Davisson as well for bringing this program to life."

Members of all 16 of UNCP's varsity athletic teams will take part in the program which also promotes mentorship opportunities among the student-athletes and coaches. Student-athletes have also worked with Pembroke Elementary students in small groups, team reading and in one-on-one situations as well. In addition to reading students short stories and books, student-athletes and coaches offer a period of each weekly visit for the second graders to ask questions pertaining to life as a collegiate student-athlete.

"We are so excited for this wonderful opportunity to work with UNCP Athletics," Jacobs said. "The Brave Buddies Program has created a spark in our children. Teachers have noticed that the children are excited about the athletes reading and sharing stories about school. Our theme is 'Teaming Up for Success' and teaming up with our Braves Buddies program will help ensure our success! Thank you Brave Buddies for helping our children be responsible, respectful and problem solvers as we continue to be all that we can be!"