June 10, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University's Athletic Department hosted its annual Field Day on Friday, June 5, bringing children from the Evanston community to Northwestern's campus to play games and have fun with college student-athletes.
Every year, representatives from each of the University's 19 varsity programs are asked to run stations featuring their various sports. Student-athletes either instruct these young people on some of the intricacies of their individual sports or they simply create fun games for the kids to play.
Betsi Burns, Northwestern's assistant athletic director for academic services and student development, is the creator of NU Field Day. Burns began the event 12 years ago as a way to give children from Evanston access to Northwestern who may not always have those kinds of opportunities.
"The impact that we have on the children is great," Burns said. "Getting them on campus is a great opportunity to get them to think about college, to think about Northwestern and to really inspire them. We love helping them realize there are other sports they can play at Northwestern besides basketball and football."
As much as Field Day is beneficial for the children who come to play, it is equally valuable to the Northwestern student-athletes. Senior Patrick Houlihan, former member of the men's basketball team as well as a Purple Mentor, values the important opportunity student-athletes have to be positive role models for young people.
"Student-athletes are given the opportunity to teach their sports to young children and have the opportunity to speak with them about their experiences as a Northwestern student-athlete," Houlihan said.
Houlihan, a former Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) vice-president, served as one of the event's student organizers. Current SAAC co-president Matt Denison, a junior golfer, agrees that Field Day is an opportunity for Northwestern student athletes to support the Northwestern community.
"It was inspiring seeing how many student-athletes volunteered to help," Denison said. "We have an incredible platform as student-athletes to be role models for youth in the Evanston Township area, and the attendance we had at NU Field Day shows the commitment our student-athletes have toward making a positive impact on the surrounding community."
This year's Field Day was as special as any. In all 160 student-athletes, representing each of team, along with Northwestern Athletics coaches and staff volunteered for the event. Almost 200 children from Family Focus, the local YMCA and members of Northwestern's Kids Club were in attendance.
Every child spent a certain amount of time at each station. For some sports, such as lacrosse, golf and soccer, players took the opportunity to educate the young people on the fundamentals of their sport. Members of the football, cross country and swimming and diving teams used creative relays for interactive fun with the kids. Limited by the location, the field hockey and tennis teams came up with fun games not directly related to their sports as well while integrating some of their equipment. Meanwhile, the basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball teams allowed kids to decide on what they would do and how they would do it while still offering instruction when needed.
Burns helped sum up what the day means to the student-athletes and all of the athletics staff who participate each year. "It is really is a meaningful event for me." Burns said. "To see student-athletes giving back and see children playing and being excited, it means the world to me."
(Written by Sterling Williams, Athletic Communications Intern)