On March 23, Dr. Jennifer Jennings' 3rd grade class received a special visit from the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and Iceburgh, the Penguins' mascot, who informed students that they had received an MVP level recognition in the Penguins' Reading Champions Challenge.

Over an eight-week span, Dr. Jennings' students collectively read for a whopping 29,682 minutes, earning them the highest level of recognition in the challenge.

The Reading Champions Challenge, a reading initiative organized by U.S. Steel and the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, encourages 3rd grade students to grow their love for reading through an eight-week program. The goal of the challenge is to have each student read for 20 minutes a day, the same amount of time in a hockey period. Each class is provided with a set of ten books focused on teamwork, kindness/anti-bullying, hockey and penguins. Duquesne City 3rd grade classes have participated in the challenge in some capacity for three years, along with a plethora of other 3rd grade classes in Western Pennsylvania.

For their efforts, students received a variety of gifts, most notably tickets for an upcoming Penguins game. The district applauds Dr. Jennings' students for their hard work and love for reading. Keep up the good work!

For some scenes from the visit, check out the gallery below.