Four Finalist Schools Honored at Read to the Final Four Championship Celebration

PHOENIX — Four Arizona schools were honored Thursday at the Read to the Final Four championship celebration at Tourney Town inside the Phoenix Convention Center, the culmination of a statewide reading challenge that engaged thousands of third graders in the lead-up to the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Mary C. O’Brien Elementary School of Casa Grande claimed this year’s Read to the Final Four title, finishing with 10,433 average minutes read per student over the course of the challenge. The remaining finalists, in order of finish, were Ahwatukee’s Kyrene de la Colina Elementary School (9,028 average minutes read per student), Phoenix’s Sun Canyon Elementary School (8,462), and Phoenix’s Villa de Paz Elementary School (7,026).

Since launching the free statewide program on Nov. 3, 2025, Read to the Final Four has encouraged Arizona third graders to build strong reading habits through a bracket-style competition based on average minutes read per week. Across 191 schools, 12,156 students logged a combined 21,426,398 minutes read – the equivalent of more than 357,000 hours or nearly 41 years of reading time.

In a surprise announcement during Thursday’s celebration, Helios Education Foundation doubled the prize amount for all four finalist schools, awarding a $10,000 grand prize to Mary C. O’Brien and $5,000 prizes to each of the three remaining finalists. The prize funding supports reading, literacy or library programs at each school.

“Literacy is foundational to long-term student success, and Read to the Final Four continues to show what’s possible when learning is paired with excitement, encouragement and community support,” said Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “The results from this year’s program are remarkable, but what’s even more meaningful are the stories from educators who saw students embrace reading in new ways. Helios Education Foundation is proud to support a program that helps create immediate enthusiasm and lasting opportunity.”

Educators across Arizona described the program as a powerful motivator for students at a critical stage in literacy development, when third graders are transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn. Teachers reported that children were reading before and after school, on weekends and at home with their families. Some schools incorporated reading into art, music and P.E., while teachers also shared that reluctant readers grew more engaged, confident and excited over the course of the competition.

“Read to the Final Four shows how the energy of championship competition can inspire young students far beyond the court,” said Lynn Holzman, NCAA vice president of women’s basketball. “By giving third graders a chance to work toward a shared goal, build confidence and be part of something bigger than themselves, this program brings together the spirit of teamwork, learning and the Women’s Final Four in a truly meaningful way.”

Read to the Final Four also included a March Madness challenge, in which any participating school averaging more than 100 minutes read per student in March received a book order. A total of 46 schools reached that benchmark, resulting in 3,048 free books for students statewide.

“Throughout this competition, we heard from teachers about students reading more at home, families getting involved and schools rallying around their third graders in such meaningful ways,” said Jen Barnett, Head of Social Responsibility, Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee. “We are so proud of Arizona’s third graders, the educators who encouraged them and the families who supported them throughout this journey, because that kind of support can lay the foundation for students to make meaningful strides at a pivotal time in their education.”

The 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four will be held April 3 and 5 at Mortgage Matchup Center in downtown Phoenix, with a full week of free fan events and community programming surrounding the championship. To learn more about Read to the Final Four and the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four, visit phoenixfinalfour.com.

About the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee

The Phoenix Local Organizing Committee (PLOC) is a non-profit organization responsible for hosting the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four. In collaboration with the NCAA, Arizona State University, Player 15 Group and key community stakeholders, the PLOC is committed to delivering a world-class championship experience. Its work includes organizing ancillary events, supporting community legacy initiatives, and ensuring that the Women’s Final Four leaves a lasting, positive impact across Arizona. The 2026 Women’s Final Four will take place at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., with the national semifinals on Friday, April 3, and the championship game on Sunday, April 5. For more information, visit phoenixfinalfour.com.

About the NCAA

The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for more than half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes. The NCAA is proud to have AT&T, Capital One and Coca-Cola as official corporate champions and the following elite companies as official corporate partners: Buffalo Wild Wings, Geico, Great Clips, The Home Depot, Intuit TurboTax, Invesco, LG, Marriott Bonvoy, Nabisco, Pizza Hut, Reese’s, Samsung, Unilever and Wendy’s.