Tulane Student-Athletes Read to Kids at Arabi Elementary
Mar 23, 2004 | Men's Tennis
March 23, 2004
NEW ORLEANS -- Led by a six-person contingent from the Green Wave tennis programs, Tulane student-athletes from five different teams enjoyed an enlightening day at Arabi Elementary School earlier this month when they participated in a reading-to-children day at the school. The project is part of the Green Wave Student-Athlete Advisory Board's community service initiative as well as Tulane Athletics' CHAMPS/Life Skills Program.
Nine Green Wave student-athletes took part in the day, including women's soccer's Jessica Mendez, volleyball player Lindsey Norman, Stephanie Franco, Jenny Kuhn and Alexis Coulourides from the women's tennis team, Michael Kogan, Goran Vasiljevic and Dmitriy Koch of men's tennis, and men's basketball player Ivan Pjevcevic.
After the initial shock of learning that - at least in the case of the seven-foot Pjevcevic -- a "giant" was going to read to them, the children, ranging from second to fifth graders quickly became engulfed in the story at hand.
After reading, the Tulane students took questions from the youngsters, who asked about life as a student-athlete and sometimes described their own athletics exploits. The kids also wondered if the Tulane athletes would be back.
 Men's basketball senior Ivan Pjevcevic towered over his young charges at Arabi Elementary.  | |
Kogan, an All-American and three-time Conference USA men's tennis player of the year, echoed the feelings of many who participated when he endorsed the idea of making reading to children a regular community service commitment.
"I enjoy spending time and helping kids out and making them happy whenever I can," Kogan said. "I would be more than happy to do it again in the near future."
The student-athletes who participated in the reading day universally expressed support and appreciation for the experience as they selflessly gave of their time without expecting anything in return. They enjoyed taking time out of their busy lives to visit the energetic children, planting a little "Green" seed into the developing minds of the youth; encouraging them to continue their education and to read, read, read.
-- Roll Wave! --
