Big Read Senior Spotlight

Arayah Weiden is a senior studying Secondary English Education and Psychology. She worked on the Big Read team for two years. She held many roles, but her primary responsibilities included writing the blog and creating many of the graphics that were shared with the public and posted around campus.

Maggie Hartman is a senior studying Secondary Social Studies Education. She worked on the Big Read team for four years. Throughout this time, she was mainly in charge of creating and finding resources for teachers who were using the Big Read books in their curricula. 

Arayah’s favorite Big Read book is A Wish in the Dark. She has always loved fantasy novels, and A Wish in the Dark offers a fantastical twist on a classic tale.  She had the opportunity to present “Virtue Ethics in Literature” on A Wish in the Dark at the National Council for Teachers of English.

Maggie’s favorite big read book is The Great Gatsby. It has a very special place in her heart, and she was so happy when it was chosen for the 2024 Big Read book. She thinks The Great Gatsby is such a classic story. Maggie had the opportunity to present “An Interdisciplinary Approach to The Great Gatsby” at the National Council for Teachers of English.

As a member of the Big Read team, Arayah has valued working with people who care about reading as much as she does and collaborating to spread that passion throughout the community. The most meaningful part of her experience with the Big Read was working within the community to promote a love of literature and reading.

The Big Read is important to Maggie because it makes reading exciting for people of all ages. She thinks that the opportunity to read the same book as countless other people in the area is really cool. Maggie has loved being able to spread the love of reading and share really great stories with so many people.