CHICORA — Olivia Klein is a Hall of Fame reader.

The sixth grader at Chicora Elementary School fills any interlude by flipping the pages of the latest book she's picked up from the library.

"She comes to our house and has her nose in a book all the time," said her grandmother, Emma Lou Knauff of Zelienople.

Since first grade, Olivia has read enough books in the acceleratedreader program that the school started a Hall of Fame and on Thursday made her the first inductee.

The accelerated reader initiative, which began in 1998, is a computer software program used nationwide that tests reading comprehension. Students read designated books and take multiple choice tests on the content. Readers who pass the tests are awarded points that vary based on the book's difficulty.

Olivia accumulated 1,500 points, a feat never accomplished in the six years the program has been used at the school.

Olivia said this year most of the books earned her about 10 points each. She gravitates toward fantasies and lists the "Harry Potter" series as her favorite.

It took her 927 quizzes to earn the points. Reading specialists in other districts, including Butler, agreed 1,500 is quite an accomplishment.

At the same time principal Jim Zambelli learned about Olivia's feat, he received a letter from a third grader suggesting that students who earned 1,000 points get their picture displayed in the cafeteria.

Zambelli said there was already a certificate award for those students, but applied the suggestion to the 1,500-point level and decided to hang the pictures in the library.

There is a reward system for accelerated reading students at the school. Students who earn 400 points get to go out to lunch with Zambelli. Those who earn 500 points get to be principal for the day.

That's why Anthony Easly, dressed in a pinstripe suit, helped Zambelli recognize Olivia during a ceremony Thursday morning in the library.

Sixth grade classes joined proud mother Tina Klein, sister Bridgete Klein, tearful grandma and her grandpa Pete Knauff as Olivia was shown the photograph that will be placed on the wall. Tina Klein said her husband, Michael, was upset that he couldn't attend his daughter's celebration. Her school portrait is framed and adorned with a placard identifying her as an Accelerated Reader Hall of Fame member.

It's something Olivia worked hard to earn.

She decided to make it a goal to reach 1,000 points last year. When she reached that mark early this school year, a few other students did as well.

That's when she committed to 1,500 points, her mother said.

Olivia was reading in the car, on the bus, at night before bed, anytime she could find, her mother said.

"I can read a book really fast, but I like to go back and read it again,"Olivia said.

Some books were more difficult to understand, like Mildred D. Taylor's "The Land," she said. She didn't pass every test, but she prevailed.

One day last week, Tina Klein was picking her daughters up from school, when Zambelli handed her a letter informing her of the ceremony.

Now, Olivia said she's going to take a break from reading. She's got a stack of books that aren't part of the accelerated reader program that she expects to read during the summer, she said.

"There's a new "Harry Potter" book coming out next month," Tina Klein said. "I'm sure we'll be at the store at midnight."