United Way of Lea County, Hobbs Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and Hobbs Municipal Schools welcomes two-time author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and basketball coach, Ashley Roberts, as the featured speaker at the Reading Under the Lights event. The event, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2025, from 5:00-8:30 p.m. at Watson Memorial Stadium on the Hobbs High School campus. Tickets for the event are encouraged and can be secured by visiting: https://RUL25HOBBS.eventbrite.com
The event’s featured speaker, Ashley Roberts, is a former University of Texas basketball player, author, mentor, and entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience in the game. A passionate advocate for student-athletes, Ashley has dedicated her career to helping young students and their families navigate the path to success—on and off the court. Her two books, The Little Girl With Big Dreams and Changing Lanes: Using Sports As a Vehicle to Drive Success On and Off the Court, focus on character building, overcoming adversity, and building confidence. “I am honored to stand alongside United Way of Lea County, Hobbs Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, and the Hobbs Municipal Schools in their mission to promote literacy and encourage kids to discover the joy of reading—because success starts with the turn of a page,” Roberts said.
“Hobbs Schools is committed to setting children up for success and helping to develop and improve their reading skills,” said Gene Strickland, Superintendent, Hobbs Municipal Schools. “Events like Reading Under the Lights demonstrate that not all literacy-based initiatives have to happen during school hours. This event gives us the opportunity to show our children that literacy activities can be meaningful and enjoyable, especially when we come together with our community.”
The Reading Under the Lights event is meant to cultivate a love of reading for school-aged children. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit individual reading stations staffed by local community members and vendors while also hearing about Roberts’ journey from the classroom to the court and how her love for reading and education played a critical role in her personal and professional success. Through real-life experiences, motivational insights, and engaging storytelling, she will inspire young students and families to embrace reading—not just as a school requirement, but as a powerful tool to unlock their dreams.
Mayra Lovas, Vice President - Grants, at the JF Maddox Foundation, said, “Ashley’s passion for youth mentorship, literacy, and desire to help the next generation—especially the next generation of young, female, student-athletes—is inspiring. We look forward to having her share her story at the Reading Under the Lights event and inspire Hobbs children in their academic and life journeys.”
Becca Titus, President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of Lea County, added, “Our community has been dedicated to doing all we can to help improve literacy levels for Hobbs children, and Reading Under the Lights is an example of us joining forces to find ways to support our youth. Our featured speaker, Ashley, firmly believes that literacy is the foundation for her success in sports, business, and life, and we encourage our community to come out, hear her story, and get inspired.”
For more information on the Reading Under the Lights event, please contact Elizabeth Wieser, ewieser@jfmaddox.org.
