Virginia Intermont College men's basketball program launches C.O.B.R.A. Reading Program. C.O.B.R.A. stands for Collectively Offering Bold Reading Activities and is a collaborative effort between VI men's basketball program and Washington Lee Elementary School in Bristol, VA. The program is designed to promote "The Power of Reading" program and to promote literacy in elementary school children ages K-6.

The program will provide the students the opportunity to experience the importance of literacy and reading from someone other than their teachers. The student-athletes will serve as mentors who demonstrate positive behaviors and provide guidance for the elementary school students who look up to them as role models. It also provides the opportunity for the elemenary students to develop personal bonds with student-athletes who will stress the importance of education. The program will also allow the student-athletes to give back to the community in perhaps the most important way: contributing to the educational experience of children.