Maryland Athletics - University of Maryland Official Athletic Site
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 Men's basketball player Tahj Holden and numerous other student-athletes hosted seventh graders from Eastern Middle School today. |
April 6, 2001
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Intercollegiate Athletics Academic Support unit hosted over 150 middle school students from Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring on Friday, April 6, as part of National Student-Athlete Day. The students engaged in campus tours, listened to current and former Terrapin athletes speak and participated in various games throughout the day. The program, partially paid for by a grant for safe and drug-free schools, is part of the NCAA CHAMPS (CHallenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success)/Lifeskills program.
National Student-Athlete Day was started 11 years ago by Sport in Society and the National Consortium for Academics and Sports. "Student-Athlete Day is a great opportunity for Maryland student-athletes to bring a group of kids to experience the importance of academics and athletics," said Associate Director for Academic Support and Career Development Karen Schiferl. "It's a wonderful chance for our athletes to give back to our community."
Students from Eastern Middle School engaged in question and answer periods with athletes which included Terrapins' men's basketball forward Tahj Holden (Little Silver, N.J.), former Maryland football player and 2001 Super Bowl champ, Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Larry Webster (1988-91), three-time women's lacrosse Player of the Year Jen Adams (Brighton, South Australia).
Friday's program included campus tours, meetings with team leaders, lunch in the dining hall on campus, and games as well as the speakers. All of the students in attendance from the Eastern Middle School received certificates acknowledging their participation. Student-athletes from at least 12 teams participated as tour and other group leaders. Those teams included: men's and women's basketball, field hockey, football, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, women's tennis, volleyball, along with track and cross country.
"I think Student-Athlete Day is really important," commented men's soccer co-captain Beckett Hollenbach (Havertown, Pa.). "To bring a group of kids here on campus and show them around so they can see what college life is like gives them a goal that they can aspire to. They look up to us as student-athletes, and we can make a difference in their life. You're not going to touch every kid and make a difference, but if you just get through to a couple of them, that's worth it to me."
