DES MOINES, IOWA -- The athletic facilities at Drake
University have nearly resembled an elementary school class room more than a
competition venue during the past week.
As part of the 'Grow Bulldogs' program, over 200 students
and teachers from Phillips Traditional School in Des Moines, a Des Moines
Public School, have seen education come to life with the assistance of the student
athletes from the Drake women's basketball and men's and women's track and
field teams.
On April 2, third grade students from Phillips visited Drake
for a tour of the athletic facilities, a history lesson on Drake Athletics, and
a hands-on experience relating science and mathematics to basketball. The
highlight of the visit was a special appearance from Drake women's basketball
players Kristin Turk, a junior
guard, and Monique' Jones, a senior forward.
The second wave of Phillips students arrived on Thursday, as
second and fourth graders received a history lesson and tour of the Drake Fieldhouse,
as well as a tour of Drake Stadium.
Drake head track
and field Natasha Kaiser-Brown and assistant coach Kevin Henderson prepared a
host of special activities for the students to try, including the long jump,
high jump, shot put, relays, and hurdles events. Participating athletes
included sophomore Eric Hall, junior Brandon Lewis, senior Kevin Earl, sophomore Matt Jurysta and senior Deidra Dirth,
“It was great seeing the positive reaction of students as
they recognized the different concepts they have learned in school come to life
through athletics. I particularly would like to thank Coach Kaiser-Brown and
Coach Henderson, as well as the many participating student-athletes, for their
effort and enthusiasm in making the event so meaningful,” said Drake athletics
marketing assistant Troy Anderson.
The visits were the culmination of a year-long program that
also included a fall football field trip to Drake, as well as several visits by
student-athletes to the school for assemblies and a comprehensive curriculum
implemented and taught by Drake School of Education students.
