Morgan Academy sophomore wins state reading contest for seventh year

Walt Bowline, a sophomore at Morgan Academy, recently won his seventh Alabama Independent School (AISA) State Reading Contest.

Karim Oaks, director of instruction at John T. Morgan Academy in Selma who coaches Bowline in scholars bowl and the ACE social studies team, said Bowline has always been “an impressive and avid reader. 

Oaks said what makes this “so remarkable” is that Bowline has won this contest the last seven out of eight years with the only gap being a year he didn’t enter so his best friend would have a chance of winning - and she did.

“This year, Walt read over 41,000 pages in about eight months,” Oaks said. “It’s clear that Walt has a love for literature and is committed to honing his reading skills. Because of his love for reading, Walk has vast knowledge across many subject areas.”

Bowline is a member of the Beta Club, the football team and a leader on the scholars’ bowl team. Recently Walt was a member of the WCCS ACE Competition team for social studies in which Oaks said he led his team to victory.

Bowline is the son of Julie and Carl Bowline.