Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Hosts 18th-Annual Field Day
10/20/2015 11:33:00 AM | 'Cats Give Back
Wildcat teams host over 100 area youths
By Amit Mallik
Northwestern Athletic Communications
PHOTO GALLERY
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern student-athletes hosted their 18th-annual Field Day on Wednesday, Oct. 14, with over 100 children from Evanston in attendance.
Northwestern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee planned an hour of fun and games where kids cycled through 11 different stations with various varsity teams. The kids in attendance were from after-school programs at community centers in Evanston such as Family Focus and Fleetword Jourdain.
"These kids are having a ball," said Ken Cherry, director of the Fleetwood Jourdain Community Center. "In this day of video games, I've never seen so many of them so engaged."
The student-athletes played with the kids in a variety of activities, from volleyball and soccer to freeze tag and lacrosse. Football players Tommy Doles and Hunter Niswander held a football-carrying relay that seemed to be a fan favorite among the kids, while another popular station was kickball with the baseball team. The afternoon was filled with excited screaming from athletes and kids alike.
JoAnn Avery, the director of the after-school program at Family Focus Community center, stressed the importance of the connection between the community and the athletics department at Northwestern.
"I can't say enough about this program," said Avery. "Whatever we have going on, we stop it to work with Northwestern."
The event culminated with a human tunnel created by the student-athletes, and the kids excitedly ran through to meet Willie the Wildcat. The kids relished the opportunity to interact with some of their older role models, and the student-athletes similarly appreciated the chance to give back to the community.
"People really enjoy this event because they help kids and get to be their leaders and idols," said Lacey Locke, the SAAC organizer of the event and a member of the women's swimming team. "I think we all found our love of sports from the people above us and I think that's important that we share our love of college sports. Hopefully the kids here can learn something from us and have a good time."
Northwestern Athletic Communications
PHOTO GALLERY
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern student-athletes hosted their 18th-annual Field Day on Wednesday, Oct. 14, with over 100 children from Evanston in attendance.
Northwestern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee planned an hour of fun and games where kids cycled through 11 different stations with various varsity teams. The kids in attendance were from after-school programs at community centers in Evanston such as Family Focus and Fleetword Jourdain.
"These kids are having a ball," said Ken Cherry, director of the Fleetwood Jourdain Community Center. "In this day of video games, I've never seen so many of them so engaged."
The student-athletes played with the kids in a variety of activities, from volleyball and soccer to freeze tag and lacrosse. Football players Tommy Doles and Hunter Niswander held a football-carrying relay that seemed to be a fan favorite among the kids, while another popular station was kickball with the baseball team. The afternoon was filled with excited screaming from athletes and kids alike.
JoAnn Avery, the director of the after-school program at Family Focus Community center, stressed the importance of the connection between the community and the athletics department at Northwestern.
"I can't say enough about this program," said Avery. "Whatever we have going on, we stop it to work with Northwestern."
The event culminated with a human tunnel created by the student-athletes, and the kids excitedly ran through to meet Willie the Wildcat. The kids relished the opportunity to interact with some of their older role models, and the student-athletes similarly appreciated the chance to give back to the community.
"People really enjoy this event because they help kids and get to be their leaders and idols," said Lacey Locke, the SAAC organizer of the event and a member of the women's swimming team. "I think we all found our love of sports from the people above us and I think that's important that we share our love of college sports. Hopefully the kids here can learn something from us and have a good time."
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