The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- March 15, 1999

Oklahoma State bombards fifth graders with positive messages

Ninety minutes of "positive bombardment" is how organizers describe the event that marks National Student-Athlete Day at Oklahoma State University.

Indeed, bombardment is a good description for this event, held in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Last year, nearly 5,700 fifth-grade students from 97 participating schools in 36 Oklahoma counties were inundated with a nonstop procession of positive messages. Numerous other students watched the program live via satellite.

The messages included: stay in school; believe in yourself; commit to excellence; be substance-free; set goals; and possess desire, dedication and and determination.

The program is put on by Oklahoma State's athletics department and the university's Golden Key Society.

Speakers included the university's president, James Halligan, as well as coaches and student-athletes in numerous Oklahoma State sports and a representative of the university's Golden Key Honor Society.

The program's dual mission is to help children set goals for the future and to help student-athletes assume responsibilities off the field and outside the classroom.

Also included in Oklahoma State's National Student-Athlete Day is the "I Wonder Fair," an afternoon of hands-on learning for elementary children across the state.

Piyush Patel, a senior in elementary education last year, came up with the idea of the fair in 1997 to provide young people with the opportunity to ask questions they have about everyday activities. The fair also is designed to teach young people what the university has to offer and allow them to interact with Oklahoma State student-athletes.

The fair is presented by the Education Student Council at Oklahoma State in conjunction with the Oklahoma State athletics department and the Golden Key Honor Society.

Displays in previous years have included a can crusher from the Oklahoma State College of Engineering, a bug farm from an entomology professor and a huge inflated whale from the "Ag in the Classroom" program.

Event organizers have created a Web site at www.iwonderzone.com to give young people the opportunity to conduct hands-on science experiments from home.