The Umpqua Community College Department of Athletics has completed their Champions Read program for the 2016-17 school year. The Champions Read program consists of RiverHawk student athletes traveling to Winchester Elementary School and reading book to the first grade students. At the end of the visit, all of the students receive a copy of the book to take home with them, along with copies for the room and library.

Umpqua athletes visited the classrooms on five different occasions and donated over 300 books to the elementary students.  The Champions Read program is part of the UCC RiverHawk Champions in the Community service platform. The Champions Read program will be expanded for 2017-18 school year, to serve a larger number of students. Funding for the program comes from Thrivent Financial.