BALTIMORE – Member of Coppin State University Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) taught sports and discussed their majors at Samuel Ogle Middle School in Bowie recently.
The participating student-athletes were Kendra Ireigbe (volleyball), Nicole Malave (volleyball), Christina Epps (track and field), Deandra Daniel (track and field), Imani Coates (track and field), Danielle Baker (track and field), Ashley Bacote (track and field), Keisha Alexander (track and field), Alethia Edwards (track and field) and Ashley Milo (tennis). Head volleyball coach Ashley Preston worked with Ogle Middle School to organize the event.
“The kids really enjoyed having Coppin State student-athletes teach them a sport that they aren't necessarily exposed to on a daily basis,” Academic Advisor Jasmine Rich said.
The main activity included the Coppin group in the physical education classes teaching the sports of volleyball, track and tennis while three student-athletes at a time made trips to science, health, and AVID classes. Those guest appearances were about 15 minutes and fun opportunities for the students to field certain questions. In the science classroom, the students enjoyed interviewing the college students on their career plans and college courses in their respective scientific fields.
“It was great teaching kids how to play volleyball,” Ireigbe said.
The students benefitted because of the diversity of the Coppin State student-athlete majors that were represented (sports psychology, criminal justice--forensics, and biology --- medicine). In health classrooms, students mainly focused on the college athletics experience while answering questions on exercise and nutrition. In AVID classrooms, students were more hands-on to assist and lead small group sessions in main academic areas like math, language arts, etc.
“The entire experience was a real coup for the middle school while also being educational for the Coppin student-athletes to embrace being role models in the greater community,” Robert Eccles said. “The PE class can be slightly intimidating with 60-80 rowdy enthusiastic pre-teens, but the Coppin group led by Coach Preston found constructive ways to involve everyone from beginning to end.
“The Coppin women were fantastic at rolling up their sleeves to coach, instruct, and partner with the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. The middle schoolers enjoyed the opportunity to be side-by-side a number of Coppin athletes who were both friendly and positive throughout. All in all, it was a win-win for all parties and a collaboration that can hopefully be extended to other schools and children in the area.”