BALTIMORE, Md. --- Coppin State University student-athletes and athletic department staff members assisted with the summer S.T.E.M robotics camps for local inner city kids.
S.T.E.M is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The camp is designed to give students the opportunity to explore engineering careers and technology as they rotate throughout different classes during the summer program.
Coppin State has taken this program and added a sports component to ensure kids are having fun and staying active.
“The purpose is to increase test scores for the kids in math and science while allowing them to be creative within the enrichment segments,” Coppin State athletic specialist Kyle Locke said. “Our role is basically to provide an enrichment component which can bridge the gap between academics and sports/arts. So we provide the sports and art component for the camp. In the morning the kids are in class doing school work. And in the afternoon, we take over and provide the enrichment component. It’s all a part of Baltimore City’s initiative for summer learning.”
The events brought together a wide variety of fifth through eighth graders from the city of Baltimore with ambitions to improve in the classroom, the athletic courts and fields.
Coppin State’s student-athletes were mainly responsible for the sports portion of the camp as they served as coaches, counselor and mentors for the program’s physical activity component.
“I like working with little kids and being around them so it’s cool to be able to mentor them,” said junior men’s basketball player Sterling Smith who averaged 10.9 points per game last year and will be a key returner for the Eagles. “They look up to me because I play basketball. It’s nice to share my experiences with them and be involved in their life.”
As kids were having fun enjoying the daily activities of summer camp, playing basketball, volleyball and dodge ball, they were also gaining knowledge and learning the basic fundamentals in all areas of different sports.
“A lot of people don’t know about volleyball in the Baltimore area, so we just try to help them learn about it and get to know the game,” said junior volleyball player Chelsee Sauni, who led the Eagles with 1,045 assists last season. “We help the kids learn technique, and basically help them have fun because you know its summer time.”
During the summer, athletes take this time to practice and fine tune skills to see improvement in their games. The Coppin State student-athletes have enjoyed witnessing the improvement in the children.
“I like when they get to learn something new, and actually see them progress, as the summer goes on,” said junior volleyball player Cindy Okpegbue, who was named to the all MEAC tournament team last season. “There is this one kid, he didn’t know how to hit the ball over the net at first, so just me seeing him hit the ball over the net now, is what I enjoy seeing during the camp.”
Locke, who helped bring the program to Coppin, knows the program is positively impacting the children as well as the community.
“It’s really grown from the first year to this year,” Locke said. “The community really embraced it. The parents really love it. Its gives the kids an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be on a college campus. They get to meet professors, student-athletes and college coaches. It really fills different voids for the kids and we’re just happy to be able to offer that experience for them.”