District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier: "Reading opens up a multitude of possibilities"

Almost 50 participants in the 61st district reading competition at the Kreishaus

The foundation of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association organizes the competition, which is held under the patronage of the Federal President. The district competition in the district administration office is prepared and organized by the district youth welfare department. The head of the district administration, Dietmar Allgaier, personally honored the winners of the southern district. They had qualified for the district reading competition at their schools. On Monday it was the turn of the West district, on Wednesday the North district will start.

The reading competition has been held every year since 1959 and has around 600,000 participants nationwide. The district, which already took part in the 1960s, is also taking part in Germany's oldest and largest school competition this year, emphasized District Administrator Allgaier. The 60th anniversary of the competition in 2019 underlined its importance and popularity.

Addressing the pupils, the head of the district administration said: "The ability to read opens up a wide range of opportunities: It is a key qualification for life; it not only educates, but also stimulates imagination and creativity; it enriches the mind and soul and promotes the ability to express oneself; finally, it also promotes the ability to empathize with other circumstances and people. Your listeners were also able to experience this as you took them on a variety of adventures and stories today. With your enthusiasm, you showed how much fun reading can be."

In view of the good performances, the jury did not have an easy task. Even though they had to make a decision at the end, there were only winners in this competition, said the district administrator. He presented all those who took part with a certificate of participation, a book prize from the Börsenverein Foundation ("Die beste Bahn meines Lebens" by Anne Becker), a backpack from Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg and a book voucher from the district, as well as additional book vouchers from the district for the three winners. The first place winners, who will represent the district in the regional competition at district level, also received the winning book "Das Abakadabra der Fische" by Simon van der Geest. Results of the district decision so far

Monday, February 10,District West

1. 1st place: Ann-Sophie Fabritius, Stromberg-Gymnasium Vaihingen/Enz,
   read from Raquel J. Palacio "Wunder".
2. 1st place: Anke Broghammer, Glemstalschule Gemeinschaftsschule Schwieberdingen-Hemmingen, read from Viviana Mazza's "The Story of Malala".
3. 1st place: Helena Marie Neitzel, Hans-Grueninger Gymnasium Markgröningen,
   read from Antje Szillat's "Lass frei, was du liebst".

Jury members on February 10

Tuesday, February 10, District South

1. 1st place: Lily Pfäfflin, Goethe-Gymnasium Ludwigsburg,
   read from Angie Westhoff's "Das Buch der seltsamen Wünsche".
2. 1st place: Frieder Schmoll, Friedrich-List-Gymnasium Asperg,
   read from Joachim Friedrich's "Die furchtlosen Zwei von Bahnsteig 3".
3. 1st place: Camille Raquet, Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium Ludwigsburg,
   read from Judith Kerr "Als Hitler das rosa Kaninchen stahl".

Jury members on February 10