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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Emporia State University
“Senior Prom”
Two student-athletes and the Emporia State FAR returned from the Division II Leadership Academy in fall 2006 with an action plan to make a difference in the Emporia community. First, they collaborated to implement the CSI (Community and Student Involvement) that targets a large contingent of senior citizens cheering for the Hornets. The CSI team started visiting senior citizens in their homes to help with tasks that younger folks could easily take for granted, such as yard work, snow shoveling, cleaning and moving furniture.
Then in April 2007, the first Senior Citizen Prom — “Take a Step Back in Time” — took place. Relationships with senior centers and assisted-living communities were formed to plan the event. Businesses in the Emporia community donated money and services to help make the event special. The best part of the event was the opportunity for the student-athletes to interact with the senior citizens.
Student-athletes were stationed at the doors to welcome the guests with an arm and escort, or a wheel chair if needed. Once upstairs in the ballroom, the guests were given corsages and offered healthy snacks. Student-athlete hosts were seated at each table to talk with the guests as they took in the sights of twinkling lights, candles and rose petals.
The student-athletes were nervous at first and unsure how to dance to this different style of music. However, once they asked the seniors to dance, they realized the seniors were eager to teach them. Many seniors even wanted to “set up” these student-athletes with their grandchildren. As the event came to an end, many student-athletes said they hoped someone would have a similar event for them when they were older.
The circle was completed when the student-athletes looked into the stands and saw seniors cheering their hearts out for “their” student-athletes.
California State University, Sonoma
“High Five Family Nights”
This is a great program during the men’s and women’s basketball season while students are away for winter break. The event admits a family of five into a Sonoma State basketball double header for $20. Admission includes five hot dogs and five soft drinks and free parking. “On the first night — without much advance notice — we sold 25 passes and put an additional 125 fans in the seats,” said Athletics Director Bill Fusco, who noted most of the individuals were first-time attendees. “We are competing with all other activities in the San Francisco region, so this event has truly sparked great interest in our basketball teams specifically, and provided an affordable event to do on a Saturday night with the family,” he said.
“Senior Prom”
Two student-athletes and the Emporia State FAR returned from the Division II Leadership Academy in fall 2006 with an action plan to make a difference in the Emporia community. First, they collaborated to implement the CSI (Community and Student Involvement) that targets a large contingent of senior citizens cheering for the Hornets. The CSI team started visiting senior citizens in their homes to help with tasks that younger folks could easily take for granted, such as yard work, snow shoveling, cleaning and moving furniture.
Then in April 2007, the first Senior Citizen Prom — “Take a Step Back in Time” — took place. Relationships with senior centers and assisted-living communities were formed to plan the event. Businesses in the Emporia community donated money and services to help make the event special. The best part of the event was the opportunity for the student-athletes to interact with the senior citizens.
Student-athletes were stationed at the doors to welcome the guests with an arm and escort, or a wheel chair if needed. Once upstairs in the ballroom, the guests were given corsages and offered healthy snacks. Student-athlete hosts were seated at each table to talk with the guests as they took in the sights of twinkling lights, candles and rose petals.
The student-athletes were nervous at first and unsure how to dance to this different style of music. However, once they asked the seniors to dance, they realized the seniors were eager to teach them. Many seniors even wanted to “set up” these student-athletes with their grandchildren. As the event came to an end, many student-athletes said they hoped someone would have a similar event for them when they were older.
The circle was completed when the student-athletes looked into the stands and saw seniors cheering their hearts out for “their” student-athletes.
California State University, Sonoma
“High Five Family Nights”
This is a great program during the men’s and women’s basketball season while students are away for winter break. The event admits a family of five into a Sonoma State basketball double header for $20. Admission includes five hot dogs and five soft drinks and free parking. “On the first night — without much advance notice — we sold 25 passes and put an additional 125 fans in the seats,” said Athletics Director Bill Fusco, who noted most of the individuals were first-time attendees. “We are competing with all other activities in the San Francisco region, so this event has truly sparked great interest in our basketball teams specifically, and provided an affordable event to do on a Saturday night with the family,” he said.
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