April 2 Is Shadow A Student-Athlete Day at Tulane
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March 27, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University will sponsor its annual "Shadow a Student-Athlete Day" on Wednesday, April 2nd from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tulane student-athletes representing every sport will pair up with 80 sixth-graders from Lafayette Elementary School for what has become one of the most popular community service events of the year.
The elementary school students arrive at the Wilson Center in time to meet up with "their" assigned student-athlete. After a brief introductory session, the pair is then together for rest of the day -- whether in class, at practice, working out in the weight room, stopping by the dorm, or eating lunch at Bruff Commons.
"We bring in students from the community to give them a taste of college life," said Tulane senior Adam Leskis, a member of the Green Wave cross country team and the Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB). "It helps them to realize that college is a reachable goal, whether through academics or athletics. It is not closed to them at all. We are not super-human, we are just like them. They should aspire to college.
"For the Tulane students, we get to connect with younger members of the community. It is a lot of fun for us; we have a good day with the kids while teaching them and showing them opportunities."
The event is coordinated by SAAB in conjunction with Tulane's "For The Children" Community Outreach Reading Program. SAAB is a group of Green Wave student-athletes from all sports which is assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience and to offer input on the rules, regulations and polices that affect student-athletes' lives. They are also heavily involved with community service activities on the Tulane campus.
