Tickets are on sale now for the 12th Annual Literacy Volunteers of the NRV Scrabble Tournament that will be held on Thursday, April 12 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the New River Valley Mall.
“It’s a lot of work but it’s a lot of fun! Everybody seems to enjoy it,” Lisa Quesenberry, program specialist for LVNRV said. “We look forward to it every year.”
As any good Scrabble player knows, the smallest words can sometimes make all the difference. Struggling readers and people trying to learn another language can appreciate that sentiment all too well, as mastery of the English language in any form often begins with those same small, but very important, words.
The New River Valley’s adult literacy organization will host a Scrabble tournament to support their programs to give adults the language and literacy skills they need for personal independence and family self-sufficiency.
The evening will kick off with a selection of local food offerings, and play will commence at 6:15 pm.
Roanoke Times columnist Dan Casey will be the Master of Ceremonies, and special guest and poet Nikki Giovanni will be join the friendly competition at the Scrabble table.
There will be two rounds of play against two different teams and awards will be given for Top Scorer, Highest Word Score, Best Team Name, etc. The cost to play is $100 for a team of 3 or $35 for an individual.
LVNRV’s new executive director, Linda Jilk, is enthusiastic about current literacy programs and new initiatives.
Jilk believes in the power and importance of education as a catalyst for positive change in lives and communities.
After earning her Masters degree in Teaching Students with Specific Learning Disabilities from Virginia Tech, she devoted her career to providing learners with access to skills and knowledge to empower them to bring about the changes they wish to see in their lives.
She has more than 20 years experience teaching reading, writing, math, GED, workforce readiness/life skills, and ESOL to adults and teens. In September of 2017, she returned to the position of LVNRV Executive Director, a position she held in the late 1990’s.
LVNRV, a United Way partner agency, provides free instruction for adults to help them achieve personal independence and family self-sufficiency. LVNRV offers a variety of instructional options—ranging from reading, writing, basic math, and basic computer skills to ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and preparation for exams such as the GED, U.S. Citizenship test, and driver’s license—to help adults achieve their goals.
Tutoring is provided by trained volunteers through one-to-one, small group, and class instruction at the Christiansburg learning center as well as public locations throughout the New River Valley. LVNRV also provides family literacy programming to help parents learn to read to their children.
Approximately 160 adults will benefit from LVNRV’s adult and family literacy programs this year.
It’s estimated that there are approximately 15,000 adults in the New River Valley without a high school diploma or GED.
To register for the Scrabble Tournament or for more information about LVNRV’s programs and volunteer opportunities, go to www.lvnrv.org or call 382-7262.
