Third-graders at Our Lady of the Angels Academy and Panther Valley Elementary are learning about the benefits of dictionaries.

Area residents William P. Gardiner and Francis X. Koomar recently purchased 160 books - 15 for OLOAA and 145 for Panther Valley - and donated them to the schools as part of the nationally known program The Dictionary Project.This is the 14th year the two have partnered up to purchase the books for the students.The pair donated the books because they believe "a dictionary is the key to good communication, education, career and personal growth and self confidence."During a recent visit to the schools Gardiner told the classes that dictionaries are useful tools because they help build stronger vocabularies."You need to learn to read, then read to learn," Gardiner said at an assembly at Panther Valley.He said that Koomar, who is 99, wished he could be there, but was unable to attend.Gardiner asked the students to look up various definitions of words, including "independent" and "project" using the new books, and they excitedly did so.The students were thrilled and thanked Gardiner for his and Koomar's generosity.The Dictionary Project is an organization whose goal is to "assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary."Over 25,968,290 dictionaries have been given to students worldwide through the program to date.