1-21 legends

By STEVE McCLAIN

Bourbon Schools

Lindsey Agnew’s parents say she draws all the time no matter what else she may be doing.

That knack for drawing has landed her on the Lexington Legends’ Hit The Books Bookmark. Legends’ President and CEO Alan Stein, along with the team mascot Big Al, were on hand to honor the Bourbon Central third-grader Tuesday morning.

Lindsey’s drawing was picked out of 8,500 entries sent in. Her drawing is on the team’s bookmarks that encourage students across the area to read four books. Once they have done so and their teacher has signed off, the students can attend a game on the designated night.

“Four years ago, Big Al came to me and said ‘Mr. Stein, I’m the only mascot in America who knows how to read.’ And he said the only way he’d do this is by helping kids read,” said Stein.

Lindsey’s parents and school staff were able to keep from telling she had won until Stein announced it in front of the school. And the tension kept getting thicker and thicker until he called Lindsey’s name.

Stein had everyone stand up and one by one, asked each grade to sit down until he got to Kathy Harris’ class. A dropping pin could be heard in the deafening silence as everyone waited to hear who had won. When her name was called, Lindsey’s face registered complete surprise, although she admitted she thought something might be up when her parents Myron and Lori Agnew walked into the gym.

“I was surprised and nervous,” Lindsey said.

“I think she saw us and was wondering what was going on,” Myron said.

Drawing is something that must come naturally to Lindsey, who also has two sisters Erica, a fifth-grader at Central, and Victoria, an eighth-grader at Bourbon Middle.

“She’s always drawing,” Lori said. “Even when she is watching television or working on the computer, she’s always drawing something.”

Lindsey received a gift bag, including membership into the Legends’ Kids Club and a framed bookmark that has her name at the top of it.

Stein said every student who enters the contest gets two tickets to a game, which translates into about 51,000 tickets in the three years the program, sponsored by Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust, has existed.

“The Community Relations staff narrows it down to 50, and then they cover up the child’s name and school and everyone else votes on the winner,” Stein said.