LIVE OAK — Northeast Lakeview College has received a matching funds grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to participate in the national Big Read program. Together with primary partners such as the Judson School District, Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union and Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Lakeview will bring northeast Bexar County and its surrounding communities together to read and celebrate Harper Lee’s classic novel “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

As the newest community college in the nation, the NEA award is Northeast Lakeview’s first federally-funded grant award. NLC is one of 127 organizations nationwide selected by the NEA to participate in the Big Read and bring together communities to enrich the reading experience. NLC will celebrate “To Kill A Mockingbird” March 3-April 15, 2008 with a full calendar of events.

A kick-off event is planned for March 3, featuring Charles Shields, author of The New York Times Bestseller” Mockingbird – A Portrait of Harper Lee.” Other events include a movie screening, dramatic readings, panel presentations, community discussions, and a presentation by Mary Badham, who portrayed “Scout” in the film version with Gregory Peck.