Cougars Announce 2014-15 Ozzie's Scholars

GENEVA, Ill. - The Kane County Cougars have designated a total of eight Chicagoland youth as "Ozzie's Scholars" for the 2014-2015 school year. The Cougars' reading scholarship program encouraged current and former members of Ozzie's Reading Club to submit a brief essay explaining how their love for reading was furthered through the Cougars' reading incentive program.

Since the program's inception 20 years ago, more than 2 million Chicagoland youth have participated in Ozzie's Reading Club, which tracks the progress of a students' reading around the bases of a baseball diamond. Each participating teacher may determine his or her own reading requirements. Students completing the program's requirements "hit a home run" and earn a free ticket to a Cougars game designated by their school, along with a pre-game parade, Cougars drawstring bag and food voucher.

The following winners have been awarded a scholarship to be used for educational purposes from Ozzie's Outreach Foundation, the charitable arm of the Cougars organization.

Kayla S. (Ontarioville Elementary, Hanover Park)
Sean L. (Our Lady of Peace School, Darien)
Matthew E. (Newark HS)
Mitchell B. (Batavia HS)
Zachary L. (Hawthorne Elementary, Wheaton)
Paige U. (Meadow Glens Elementary, Naperville)
Olivia G. (Lord & Savior Lutheran School, Crystal Lake)
Logan C. (Clinton Elementary School, South Elgin)  

Winners and their families will be recognized on the field before the Sunday, July 19^th Cougars game.

"Congratulations to all of our 2014-15 Ozzie's Scholars applicants and winners as once again this year, we were encouraged by how many of our young fans have credited their participation in Ozzie's Reading Club as an important part of their reading development," Cougars Ozzie's Reading Club Coordinator Amy Mason said. "We are looking forward to recognizing our winners, along with their families on July 19^th."