Ever wondered what 2,000 screaming school kids attending a college basketball games sounds like? The Redhawks women’s basketball team found out last Tuesday, November 14 when hosted its annual Classroom on the Court promotion.
The Southeast women hosted Missouri Valley College for an 11 a.m. tip-off inside the Show Me Center, in front of a crowd full of elementary and middle school kids who took a field trip from area school, including Cape and Jackson and even as far as Puxico, Missouri and Egyptian Schools in Illinois.
The Classroom on the Court program gives local school children the opportunity to attend a Division I basketball game and be inspired to attend college in the future. Anti-bullying messages were played on the Show Me Center videoboard, and classrooms also received an activity workbook that applies real-world math concepts to the game of basketball. To top it off, United Airlines provided all the kids in attendance with a Redhawk drawstring bag as a souvenir.
Jackson R-2 Public Schools alone brought over 900 fifth and sixth grade students, and their experience included a tour of the campus before the game led by the Southeast Office of Admissions.
The Redhawks cruised to a 69-34 victory, and after the game, Redhawk student-athletes spent time thanking the young fans, signing autographs, and giving high fives as the kids made their way out of the building.
The Southeast women return home today and tomorrow for the SEMO Thanksgiving Tournament. The Redhawks host Evangel University today at 3:15 p.m., and will play Bradley tomorrow at 3:15 p.m.
The Redhawk men will also be back in the Show Me Center this weekend, fresh off their trip to Cancun as part of the Cancun Challenge. Southeast hosts Division I North Carolina Central on Sunday at 2 p.m. The game will feature Happy Slapowitz’s Teddy Bear Toss. Fans can bring a new stuffed animal or toy to receive discounted admission, and at halftime all fans are invited to throw their stuffed animals onto the court. All stuffed animals and other toys will be donated to Toys for Tots.
Follow Redhawk Athletics on Twitter @GoSoutheast.
