COPA PANCHITO THROUGH THE YEARS

Our city-wide reading program Rosarito Lee (Rosarito Reads) began in 2014, reaching thousands of children through their schools. Over the years, it came to be affectionately known by the students as Copa Panchito. The very first author read in the program was Francisco "Panchito" Jimenez. His books continue to be beloved by all of the students who read them. We began an interschool reading contest in Year Two of the program, with the winning school garnering the Panchito Cup trophy (Copa Panchito).  You can find some highlights from past years here and keep up with current happenings on our Facebook pages - www.facebook.com/folrosarito/    and www.facebook.com/RosaritoFOL/

Copa Panchito 2018 now in the history books: Emiliano Zapata repeats as  Gran Campeon

Team Emiliano Zapata hoists the trophy

All celebrate Copa Panchito 2018

Drawings and composition highlights

Published Anthology: A first for Copa Panchito in 2018

This year, for the first time, the best writings and drawings of the 4th, 5th and 6th graders of Copa Panchito were complied into a published anthology. The anthology celebrates the ideas and voices of these young people who are discovering the joys of reading for pleasure. We hope that seeing their names and their words in a formally published book will encourage them to continue their adventures in reading, writing, drawing.... and learning to better communicate their ideas on paper - a skill which will serve them to create the best futures for themselves.

Anthology cover, illustrated by Claudia Yadira Flores Sarabia

The young authors receive their personal copies

Copa Panchito 2017: Emiliano Zapata wins in a very close contest, edging out Abraham Lincoln by only 10 points

The grand finale of "Copa Panchito 2017" took place in the Palacio Municipal of Playas de Rosarito, B.C. Thursday 16 February 2017.

On behalf of the municipal president of playas de Rosarito, Mirna Cecilia Rincón Vargas, Secretary-General of government George Arevalo Mendoza handed the cup to the first place students from primary school Emiliano Zapata in the Primo Tapia section of Rosarito. Arevalo Mendoza acknowledged the effort made by students of the 30 schools participating in the Jeopardy-style contest based on their reading, as well as the support from parents, teachers, and the members of the association "Friends of the Library," organizers of the event for the third consecutive year.

In the Grand Finale competition, students from the 4 finalist schools - Abraham Lincoln, Forjadores de la Patria, Ejido Mazatlán and Emiliano Zapata - responded to a series of more than 50 questions, each with a value of 10 points, in order to achieve the highest score possible.

Members of each finalist team received prizes including a personal set of the 4 books used in the program, with one of the books personally autographed by the author. The grand champion team members each received their own personal Samsung tablet.

Also recognized at the event were the winners of an individual competition requiring an essay with accompanying drawing about what they learned from the books to influence their own lives. One winner each from 4th, 5th and 6th grade received prize packages including the set of books and a personal Samsung tablet.

Watch Video Of Rosarito Lee/Copa Panchito's "Grand Event" 2014 (Below) Or Click To See A Slide Show With English Captions

On May 23, 2014 over 3000 children came to the Baja California Center - the amazing new convention center facility in Rosarito/Tijuana - to meet author Francisco Jimenez in the culminating event for the first year of Rosarito Lee's Copa Panchito program. He spoke to the wildly enthusiastic crowd, who also heard from Rosarito's mayor, the wife of Baja California's governor, and the head of the Education Department. Medals and trophies were awarded for the best student projects about Jimenez' magical books, Cajas de Carton and Senderos Fronterizos.