The H. Peter Burg AkronReads Book Awards

Applications are available in December at this Web site, or from your APS high school counselor, and are accepted until March 15th.

The AkronReads Book Awards honor the late H. Peter Burg, Chairman and CEO of FirstEnergy. As a member of Ohio Gov. Bob Taft’s OhioReads Business Council, Pete led the effort to establish AkronReads in partnership with the Akron Public Schools and area businesses.

The AkronReads Business Partners encourage graduating seniors from the Akron Public Schools to apply for a book award in the spirit for which AkronReads was created. The application will include an essay about how reading, or a specific book, has influenced the applicant's life. The book award is a monetary award to be used for the purchase of college text books.

Seven (7) awards will be granted, one for each Akron Public High School. In the event there is no applicant/winner in one of the high schools, the award will go to a second student of one of the other Akron high schools based on the strength of the student’s application/essay. There will be discretion to award an additional award in each school.

2008 was a special year for AkronReads, as Dr. Sylvester Small celebrated his last year as superintendent of Akron Public Schools. The AkronReads steering committee saluted Dr. Small in recognition of 38 years of service to the Akron Public Schools and the school community. What better way to recognize his commitment to education than to offer a special book award in his name. The Dr. Sylvester Small AkronReads Book Award recipient is Amber A. Adams. Amber is attending Taylor University in Indiana. Her goal is to obtain a degree in international business in hopes of one day establishing her own Fortune 500 Corporation. Amber selected Taylor University because it offers: high career placement, the opportunity to study abroad, rigorous coursework, an excellent business program, and the #1 baccalaureate program in the Midwest. Amber A. Adams and Dr. Small share the same attributes: academic excellence, high expectations, and a strong vision for the future. Congratulations Amber.

The AkronReads Book Awards Recipients for the 2007-2008 school year:

The AkronReads Book Awards Recipients for the 2006-2007 school year. Also pictured, center, is Eileen Burg, fund contributor for the AkronReads Book Awards, and wife of late Peter Burg: