Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Student-Athletes Continue Excellence in Community Service
October 12, 1999 | General
Oct. 12, 1999
STILLWATER, Okla. ? This year, Stillwater children will be learning from someone other than their teachers as OSU student-athletes assist elementary school teachers in their lessons.
After volunteering over 1,300 hours to the community and state during the 1998-99 academic year, several athletes are planning to continue involvement this year, through Adopt-A-Player, a program in its second year.
Adopt-A-Player was started at OSU during the 1998-99 academic year. The program was developed by the Oklahoma State University Athletic Department in conjunction with Stillwater schools.
During its pilot year, the program involved 10 student-athletes and two Stillwater elementary schools. This year, however, the program includes all six of the elementary schools in Stillwater and more than 30 student-athletes.
The program is designed to match individual student-athletes to individual classrooms.
"Once an athlete is assigned to a classroom, they remain in that classroom and work with those students for the whole semester," said Jeff Martin, community outreach assistant for the OSU Athletics Department.
The student-athletes are asked to go to the elementary school at least one day a week.
"I usually spend about an hour to an hour and a half each week with my class," said golfer Edward Loar. "I usually hang out and help the kids with what they're doing, I also work with the teacher on lessons and anything she needs. I'm kind of a helper."
The teachers also use information about their student-athletes as an educational tool. The athlete's statistics are used to teach math skills, and the geography and history of the athlete's hometown are used to teach both history and geography.
"I spent time with the class I was assigned to last year and taught them a lesson each week," said basketball player Doug Gottlieb. "One of the lessons they learned involved my dog. At the beginning of the year he was a puppy, and throughout the year the children measured the dog to see how fast it grew."
Martin has been working all year to get others involved.
"I went to different elementary schools to explain the program in faculty meetings," Martin said. "Those teachers that were interested contacted their school principles, and I paired them up with an athlete."
Martin also worked to get student-athletes involved.
"I sent memos out to all the coaches and talked to some of the athletes that I personally knew about involvement," Martin said.
Martin worked to start the program last year to boost OSU's image.
"Sports are a huge platform in society as a whole. This program has a positive outcome for both the student-athletes and the children involved," Martin said.
The student-athletes involved also realize the benefit of the program.
"It's always nice to give back to the community," Loar said. "I enjoy hanging out with the kids. I'm kind of a big kid myself, so this is fun for me too."
