Until three years ago, 36-year-old Kenny Gray could not read. His family suspected, but his 17-year-old son didn�t know. �He never guessed - I was always working!� Kenny said. �As a non-reader, I felt scared and ashamed and like many others felt too old to start all over again.�

And then Kenny found LVA , and joined the Jersey City Public Library Literacy Program in January, 1997.

Kenny was having a hard time reading Scripture in church. A woman from his church who worked in the library told him about the literacy program there.

In two years Kenny has grown from non-reader to founder and leader of a support group for students; from local TV spokesperson for LVA to LVA National�s Student of the Year in 1998.

Kenny shared his struggle with the 1,000 attendees at the LVA National Conference in Houston, Texas. He said as he accepted his award:

�When I joined the program, I was lacking reading. I finished high school, but I knew I had a reading problem. I stepped up to the plate and I knew I had to get help. People helped me along the way and I just got strong in my affiliate. That�s why I�m glad to be the student ambassador of the year as well as the Ruth Colvin Student Leader of the Year.�

Gray said he was surprised to learn how many students are close to his age, or older. He said that regardless of age, a feeling of family brings students together, sharing the feeling that they�re not alone, and that people from all walks of life can change their lives by improving their reading skills.

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